CRISPR Cas-enabled smart sensors for real-time detection of contaminants in river water

This project sits at the intersection of Engineering Biology, Environmental Monitoring, Biosensing, and Water Science. It combines advances in CRISPR/Cas biotechnology, synthetic biology, paper-based microfluidics, and digital sensing to address pressing challenges in environmental water quality monitoring. The research aligns directly with Theme 1 (Biosensors and Environmental Monitoring) of the EngBio4Env programme and contributes to the growing field of AI-enabled environmental sensing and engineering biology. 

The project is highly relevant today because rivers and freshwater systems are increasingly threatened by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), heavy metals, pesticides, and other emerging contaminants. Current monitoring approaches rely heavily on laboratory-based analysis, which is expensive, labour-intensive, and often unable to provide timely information for pollution prevention and management. Regulatory pressures under the Environment Act 2021, Water Framework Directive, and water industry environmental programmes are driving demand for rapid, cost-effective, and field-deployable monitoring technologies. 

By developing CRISPR/Cas-enabled smart sensors capable of real-time, on-site detection of multiple contaminants, this project addresses a critical national and global need for improved environmental intelligence. The technology has the potential to transform how water companies, regulators, and communities monitor river health, enabling earlier detection of pollution events, more effective environmental management, and better protection of public health and ecosystems. The project also supports the UK's strategic investment in Engineering Biology as a key technology for delivering environmental sustainability, resilience, and economic growth. 

This project focuses on the development of next-generation CRISPR/Cas-enabled smart biosensors for real-time environmental monitoring of river water quality. By integrating engineering biology, paper-based microfluidics, and digital sensing technologies, the research aims to create a low-cost, portable, and multiplexed sensing platform capable of detecting a range of priority contaminants, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, PFAS compounds, heavy metals, and pesticide residues directly at the point of need. The project addresses the growing demand for rapid, field-deployable monitoring technologies that can provide actionable environmental intelligence and support evidence-based water management. 

The overall aim of this project is to develop and validate a field-deployable CRISPR/Cas-based sensor platform for rapid, sensitive, and simultaneous detection of multiple environmental contaminants in river water. Specifically, the project seeks to:  

1. Engineer and optimise CRISPR/Cas9-based biosensing assays for priority chemical and biological contaminants;  
2. Develop robust, low-cost microfluidics devices suitable for deployment without specialist laboratory infrastructure or cold-chain storage.  
3. Validate sensor performance against gold-standard analytical methods through laboratory and field testing in collaboration with Anglian Water. 

This project will be based at Cranfield University, a leading postgraduate-only university with strong expertise in water and wastewater engineering, nature-based solutions, environmental biotechnology, and micropollutant remediation. The studentship is sponsored by the NERC Doctoral Focal Award in Engineering Biology for Environmental Applications (EngBio4Env) and WRc. EngBio4Env provides an exciting interdisciplinary training environment across engineering biology, environmental science, and innovation.  

Anglian Water is the largest water and water recycling company in England and Wales by geographic area, supplying approximately 1.3 billion litres of water per day to around 6.7 million customers across the East of England and Hartlepool. The quality of the water environment ( rivers, groundwater, and estuaries) is central to our operating licence and to our commitments under the Water Framework Directive, the Environment Act 2021, and our long-term Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP).  

The project will generate new knowledge in the design and optimisation of biological sensing systems integrated with digital and AI-enabled data processing pipelines. This includes improved understanding of biosensor performance in complex environmental matrices, advances in signal transduction mechanisms, and new approaches for enhancing sensitivity, selectivity, and robustness under field conditions. The system will combine engineered biological recognition elements with optical/electrochemical readouts and machine-learning-based signal interpretation, enabling autonomous and continuous monitoring.

The project will provide improved capability for early warning and continuous surveillance of water and environmental quality, supporting regulators and utilities in evidence-based decision-making. This will contribute to better protection of public health, improved ecosystem management, and reduced monitoring costs compared to conventional laboratory-based approaches. It will also strengthen industry and water-sector engagement, particularly through collaboration with utility partners, enabling pathways toward real-world deployment and adoption.  

This is a fully funded PhD with an enhanced tax-free stipend of £31,805 per annum, full fees covered for four years, and additional support for training. The successful candidate will benefit from interdisciplinary training through EngBio4Env and access to Cranfield’s expertise and facilities in wastewater treatment, micropollutant analysis, molecular microbiology, and environmental modelling. The project will offer opportunities for collaboration with industrial and external partners, conference participation, advanced technical training, and wider engagement with the engineering biology research community. 

At the end of the project, the candidate will be very well positioned to have a highly successful career in the water sector or in an academic role. We will help you develop into a dynamic, confident and highly competent researcher with wider transferable skills (communication, project management and leadership) with an international network of colleagues.