PhD Studentship: Global Burden of Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange Induced Ozone Pollution Under Climate Warming University of Birmingham in United Kingdom

[Funding covers annual stipend, tuition fees (at home-fee level), and Research Training Support Grant. International students eligible up to 30% of cohort. Funding does not cover relocation or living costs.]

This PhD studentship at the University of Birmingham investigates the global burden of ozone pollution resulting from stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) under climate warming. Air pollution remains a major global health risk, and as policies target reductions in NOx emissions, tropospheric ozone levels are expected to rise due to changes in precursor chemistry. The IPCC AR6 report highlights significant uncertainties in predicting tropospheric ozone responses to future climate conditions, particularly due to gaps in understanding the processes that govern ozone formation, depletion, and transport.

The project focuses on the STE, a critical atmospheric process that regulates the distribution of gaseous species between the stratosphere and troposphere, thereby influencing global background air quality. Recent observations indicate stratospheric cooling as a result of tropospheric warming, with unknown implications for STE dynamics and subsequent air quality. There is considerable spatial variability in model projections of STE-induced tropospheric ozone, especially in polluted regions, making the quantification of its dynamics and associated global health burden a pressing concern.

Students will engage with advanced atmospheric modeling, data analysis, and interdisciplinary research to address these uncertainties. The project is offered through the CENTA3 Doctoral Training Partnership and funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Funding includes an annual stipend, tuition fees at the home-fee level, and a Research Training Support Grant. International students are eligible for up to 30% of the cohort, though funding does not cover relocation or living costs.

Applicants should hold at least a 2:1 UK BSc degree or a pass at UK MSc level (or equivalent). International candidates must meet the University of Birmingham’s entry requirements, including English language proficiency. The application deadline is January 7, 2027. For further details and to apply, visit the CENTA studentship page and review the University’s international requirements. References supporting the research context include recent studies on climate change impacts on ozone, STE dynamics, and health effects of ozone exposure.