About the Project
PLEASE BE AWARE: Applications for this project may close earlier than the advertised deadline if a suitable candidate is found. We therefore recommend that you contact the lead supervisor prior to applying and submit your formal application as early as possible.
Overview of the Research:
Urban water represents a fingerprint of a city’s metabolism (exposome). It is a complex mixture of substances of biological and chemical origin including community stressors (e.g. toxicants, hazardous chemical) and urban physiological processes (e.g. specific disease-linked endogenous chemicals and stressor metabolites). The quantitative measurement of these substances continuously pooled by the water system can provide evidence of community-wide exposure to stressors as well resulting health outcomes such as stress, inflammation or a particular health condition (e.g. diabetes, or cancer).
Human biomonitoring allows for the verification of public exposure to chemical substances. Unfortunately, due to logistical difficulties and high cost, it evaluates only small study groups and a limited number of chemical targets. Water-based chemical mining utilizing metabolic biomarkers of exposure and effects that are produced collectively by studied populations and ultimately end up in urban water, provides a timely alternative to traditional approaches.
This studentship will develop new approaches towards evaluation of public and environmental health risks from environmental pollution (e.g. air quality and hazardous chemicals) and lifestyle choices (e.g. smoking, sedentary lifestyle).
The project will:
1.Establish mass spectrometry focussed frameworks screening for lifestyle indicators (e.g. nicotine), disease biomarkers (e.g. oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers) and pharmaceuticals as proxies for disease (e.g. cancer drugs, antihistamines, cardiovascular drugs and antidiabetics).
2.Undertake analysis of longitudinal samples collected in CWBE Living Labs (wastewater and receiving environment) to establish spatiotemporal trends in environmental and public health determinants.
3. Undertake data triangulation with other indicators (socioeconomics, demographics, weather and health datasets, etc) to verify exposure – health effects associations and to identify key disease risk factors.
Water-based chemical mining (water fingerprinting) has the potential to revolutionise health-care provision as it can provide real-time and cost-effective community-wide public health diagnostics, since urban water can be considered as a diagnostic medium for the health status of a community and surrounding environment.
The successful candidate will work alongside a postdoctoral researcher (focussed on modelling, data representation in R and risk assessment) towards the development and application of the approach as a measure of public health status in the studied region and tool for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.
This project is supported by Wessex Water and it feeds into the wider consortium within our Centre of Excellence in Water Based early Warning Systems for health protection. Megan Robertson and John Bagnall from Wessex Water will also be a part of the supervisory team for the project.
The student will receive training in a range of modern analytical techniques and data handling approaches. In addition, he/she will join an interdisciplinary team at CBWE with critical research expertise in the area and excellent research infrastructure. Experience of academic/government/industrial research (e.g. potential secondment), interdisciplinary and international working and development of legislation and water, public health policy, will provide an exciting opportunity for further professional development.
This studentship is one of two currently advertised within Centre of Excellence in Water-Based Early-Warning Systems for Health Protection. Become part of an exciting journey developing future early warning systems for environmental and public health protection.
Project keywords: Water, pollution, environmental chemistry, one health, sustainability, pharmaceuticals
Candidate Requirements:
Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or high Upper Second Class UK Honours degree (or the equivalent) in a relevant subject. A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.
Non-UK applicants must meet the programme’s English language requirement by the application deadline.
Enquiries and Applications:
Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be directed to Prof Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern B.Kasprzyk-Hordern@bath.ac.uk
Formal applications should be submitted via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Chemistry prior to the closing date of this advert.
IMPORTANT:
When completing the application form:
1. In the Funding your studies section, select ‘University of Bath URSA’ as the studentship for which you are applying.
2. In the Your PhD project section, quote the project title of this project and the name of the lead supervisor in the appropriate boxes.
Failure to complete these two steps will cause delays in processing your application and may cause you to miss the deadline.
More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and 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
Funding Notes
Candidates may be considered for a University of Bath studentship tenable for 3.5 years. Funding covers tuition fees, a stipend (£19,237 p/a in 2024/5) and access to a training support budget.
