Organisation/Company Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Department Department of Physics Research Field Environmental science Biological sciences Chemistry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 1 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37,5 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe – COFUND Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description Opportunities for synergistic optimization of hydrogen production in microbial electrolysis cells via low-intensity magnetic fields
Research project : Applying magnetic fields (MFs) to bioreactors is an emerging technology that seems to have promising opportunities, especially for wastewater treatment. Recent reports show that MFs could enhance the performance of biological treatment processes for various pollutants, including organic matter, nitrogen, and toxic compounds like antibiotics and dyes.



This enhancement is often achieved using low-intensity static magnetic fields (L-MFs The research to be conducted at UAB aims to start a research line in this field combining the previous background knowledge of two different research groups (GENOCOV – Prof. Albert Guisasola and Physics Department – Dr. Carles Navau). Particularly, this thesis will focus in the interactions of L-MFs and bioelectrochemical systems. Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs) represent a promising technology for sustainable hydrogen production and wastewater treatment. Their efficiency hinges on the performance of electrochemically active bacteria (EABs) biofilms on the anode. This PhD project will investigate the synergistic application of L-MFs to significantly enhance MEC performance. The project builds upon the work of Park et al. (2025), who demonstrated a 1.8-fold increase in H₂ production by combining a 150 mT MF with magnetic media.
Key objectives of the thesis:
1. Determine the optimal L-MF intensity range and conditions to maximize the growth of key EABs in MECs.
2. Evaluate the synergy between optimized L-MFs and media conditions to promote the formation of a robust electroactive biofilm thereby improving system stability and resilience against harsh conditions like anolyte wash-out.
3. Elucidate the underlying mechanisms: how L-MFs modulate gene expression, membrane transport, and free radical recombination within the EABs' electron

📌 Phd Position At Universitat Autònoma De Barcelona Funded By The Phynest Project (Madrid)
🏢 Universitat Autònoma De Barcelona
📍 Madrid