About the Project
This project is in competition for funding from the GW4+ Doctoral Landscape Training Partnership (DLTP) for entry in September 2025. The GW4+ DLTP consists of the Universities of Bath, Bristol and Exeter and Cardiff University plus five prestigious Research Organisation partners.
Lead Supervisor: Dr Matthew Grayson, University of Bath, Department of Chemistry
Co-Supervisors: Dr Lee Bryant, University of Bath, Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering and Prof Varinder Aggarwal, University of Bristol, Department of Chemistry
Project aims and methods:
Industrialisation has resulted in pollutants entering aquatic environments. Therefore, an understanding of the long-term availability and fate of pollutants and what impact they have on aquatic life is needed. This requires knowledge of the transport behaviour of compounds and how these molecules interact with organisms. Current risk assessment frameworks utilise costly experimental investigations; instead, machine learning (ML) could be used to provide cheap and rapid predictions. Through a combination of field and ML experiments, this project will develop new approaches for assessing the transport behaviour and toxicity of molecules.
Using a local UK drinking-water-supply reservoir, high-resolution spatial and temporal concentration data for pollutants will be collected. ML models will then be trained to predict areas of high pollutant concentration from easy-to-measure data (e.g., temperature and dissolved oxygen content). The second objective is to build ML models that accurately predict published aquatic toxicity data. Combined, these ML models will provide a new, rapid and holistic approach to understanding the long-term fate and impact of pollutants within aquatic systems.
We are happy to adapt the project to match the Doctoral Researcher’s interests. e.g., changing the balance between field and ML work.
Candidate requirements:
Applicants must have, or be about to obtain, a UK Honours degree 1st or 2.1, or international equivalent.
Non-UK applicants must meet the programme’s English language requirement before the application deadline, unless they are currently studying in the UK. No exceptions will be considered.
Enquiries:
For information relating to the research project please contact the lead supervisor via M.N.Grayson@bath.ac.uk
Application Instructions
Please follow the below instructions carefully.
You must make a formal application via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Chemistry.
Please note that you can apply for a maximum of two PhD projects on this programme.
In the ‘Funding Your Studies’ section, you must select ‘NERC GW4+’ from one of the drop-down menus.
In the ‘Your PhD project’ section, you must quote the project title in the PhD project title field, and you must quote the lead supervisor’s name in the field ‘Name of intended supervisor at University of Bath.’
You must also complete and upload a GW4+ DLTP Personal Statement with your application, the template for which is here.
If you are applying for two projects, you must quote the project title for your second choice project in the field ‘Project 2 Title’ and the lead supervisor’s name in ‘Name of intended supervisor for 2nd choice project at University of Bath.
You must ensure that you follow the above steps correctly. Failure to complete these steps will cause errors in the automated processing of your application and may mean that you are not considered for a particular project.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We value a diverse research environment and strive to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We encourage applications from under-represented groups.
If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.
The Disability Service ensures that individuals with disabilities are provided the support that they need. If you state if your application that you have a disability, the Disability Service will contact you as part of this process to discuss your needs.
Project keywords: Machine Learning, Environmental Sciences, Pollution
Project Science Theme: Science for Environmental Solutions
Funding Notes
Candidates may be considered for a NERC GW4+ DLTP studentship tenable for 3.5 years. Funding covers tuition fees, a stipend (£19,237 p/a in 2024/25) and a generous allowance for research expenses and travel. Studentships are open to both Home and International students; however, International applicants should note that funding does NOT cover the cost of a student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK. In line with guidance from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the number of awards available to International candidates will be limited to 30% of the total.