Dr Jacqueline Edge

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Dr Jacqueline S. Edge

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham

Scientific Background

Research Interests

My research is on the sustainability assessment of batteries across ther lifecycle, from impacts during materials extraction and manufacturing, through to end of life. I also research methods for mitigating these impacts, whether it's through recycling, or informing battery supply chains on how to best manage biodiversity impacts. I have a background in energy storage research and am interested in how we integrate new technologies into mobility and the grid.

I also have a strong interest in understanding the environmental impacts of fluorochemicals, including organic and inorganic substances. My work includes finding alternatives to the use of fluorochemicals in energy applications.

Research Groups

List Research Groups

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: adaptable, empathic, collaborative.

Provision of Training

I prefer to take responsibility for your technical training at first, leading to more independence later.

Progression Monitoring and Management

For the first year, we will meet on a weekly basis to review the previous week and co-create the plan for the subsequent week. In following years, we may reduce the frequency of meetings, as suits us both. I fully support you developing your own research questions and approach through the PhD and will guide you through it, perhaps initially defining goals and then expecting you to take more ownership. The responsibility for getting through the PhD ultimately lies with you, but I am here as a sounding board and to give support, or a gentle steer, as necessary.

Communication

I am happy to discuss any issues that are impacting your ability to fulfil your potential or my/our expectations. I do not expect you to mirror my working patterns, as we are all different and have different optimum patterns, for example: one person may work best in the morning, another in the afternoon.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per fortnight. These meetings will be a mixture of face-to-face and via video chat or telephone. I have an open door policy, but my pattern of being contactable for an instant response is not predictable.

Work Patterns

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings) I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 1 month's notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5,000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Understanding the microbial fate of fluorines as a route for PFAS mitigation strategies

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Understanding the microbial fate of fluorines as a route for PFAS mitigation strategies

Secondary Supervisor(s): Professor John McGeehan

University of Registration: University of Birmingham

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Microbiology, Structural Biology)

Project Outline

Much like the persistence of plastics can be attributed to their highly stable carbon-carbon backbones, the persistence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is due to the stability of the carbon-fluorine bond. This has led to an assumption that most PFAS are biologically inert. In contrast, recent research has identified multiple bacterial systems encompassing enzymes that are able to selectively hydrolyse C-F bonds and could potentially release both organic and inorganic fluorine species. This has severe implications for conventional treatment of waste streams, including wastewater and landfill leachate, which rely on the resulting products from bacterial remediation being at least no more harmful. The specific mechanisms of microbial breakdown, including the particular enzymes involved and the likely transformation products, remain elusive, presenting a huge opportunity for new insights into the fundamental nature, implications and potential application of these biochemical transformations.

This PhD project aims to improve understanding of the microbial drivers, biochemical mechanisms and fate of fluorochemicals by integrating microbiology, enzymology and analytical chemistry approaches. The student will have the opportunity to test their hypotheses through: (i) controlled exposure of microbial communities to PFAS, analysing changes in their diversity and gene expression relative to controls, (ii) screening of microbial isolates for an ability to transform PFAS, (iii) monitoring the degradation and fate of fluorinated compounds, and (iv) rationally evolving and designing enzymes using a new method successfully employed in our lab for the industrial breakdown of plastics, based on candidates identified from consortia and isolates. The project will develop a new toolbox for degradation of fluorinated compounds, which will ultimately be harnessed for treatment of fluorine-heavy waste streams.