In-person opportunity at TUM Campus Straubing / Polimi Milan (ERASMUS+)

[Microbiology/Bioprocess engineering] Local or International Thesis or Internship opportunity: PhycoGrid – Engineered living materials utilising photosynthesis for targeted pharmaceutical removal in wastewater

PiCO2buddies_project_description

21.11.2025, Diplomarbeiten, Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten

Have you ever dreamed of working with cells that are easy to cultivate, resistant to contamination, and can always be observed in vibrant colours under a microscope? Would you like to join us on this international adventure between the Politecnico di Milano and the TUM Campus Straubing (All TUM students are welcome and eligible!), with the opportunity to complete your Master’s thesis in Italy (ERASMUS+)? (Read more for the description of the project!)

Diclofenac (DFC) toxicity in water is a global concern. DCF causes adverse effects on aquatic organisms when it accumulates inside plants and animals. DFC is a persistent micropollutant that can be eliminated in traditional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) by up to 40%. The activated sludge in a WTTP combines highly effective microorganisms that remove organic matter. However, many of these associations are not specialised in breaking down DFC and similar drugs. This is due to the chemical properties of DFC, which prevent it from adhering to the sludge particles and make it unaffected by biological mineralisation (complete oxidation to CO2 and H2O). Some specialist microorganisms have evolved mechanisms to purge DFC. Nonetheless, cells in a typical sludge generate a hostile environment for the specialists, eliminating them quickly from the ecosystem. Changing the operating conditions in the treatment reactors to favour the less competitive specialists is not an option, as it disrupts the performance of the other cells. Consequently, DFC enters the environment through landfills, leachate, and municipal and industrial discharges.

With this project, we aim to contribute to the development of a novel biological method that utilises a DFC specialist microorganism capable of breaking down DFC to meet EU water quality standards, and another that will shield it from the environment.

Kontakt: m.ibanez@tum.de

More Information

https://ctv.cs.tum.de/en/research/activities