B Kasprzyk-Hordern

This PhD opportunity, hosted by the University of Bath within the NERC Red-ALERT Centre for Doctoral Training, focuses on developing high-fidelity models for water quality and hydrological processes in rivers, specifically targeting emerging contaminants. The project aims to simulate the dynamics of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic micropollutants at high temporal and spatial resolution for the Cam and Wellow Living Lab. By building on a successful model previously developed for the River Frome, the research will adapt and extend modelling approaches to new river systems with different hydrological characteristics. Key research activities include collecting and integrating hydrological and water quality data, calibrating and validating models using both existing and newly acquired datasets, and collaborating with industrial partner Wessex Water. The project is highly interdisciplinary, bridging hydrology, environmental science, chemistry, microbiology, pollution studies, ecotoxicity, and advanced data analysis. The research will also connect with ongoing efforts in omics and sensor tool development, and will use pharmaceutical prescription models and pesticide usage data to predict organic micropollutant loads. Applicants should have a strong academic background in chemical engineering, environmental engineering, or a closely related field, with a First Class or good Upper Second-Class UK Honours degree (or equivalent). A master’s degree is advantageous, and relevant non-academic experience will be considered. Non-UK applicants must meet English language requirements. The University of Bath values diversity and encourages applications from under-represented groups. The position is funded through a NERC Red-ALERT studentship, which covers tuition fees, a stipend (£20,780 per annum in 2025/6), and a training support budget for 3.5 years. The application deadline is January 19, 2026, and applications should be submitted via the Red-ALERT CDT online application form. For further information, prospective candidates can contact the industrial partners or the CDT directly.

This fully funded PhD studentship at the University of Bath, through the NERC Red-ALERT Centre for Doctoral Training, offers an exciting opportunity to address the urgent global challenge of chemical pollution and its impacts on human and environmental health. The project aims to develop a water-based epidemiology framework to understand and mitigate risks from hazardous chemicals in urban environments, supporting One Health interventions that bridge environmental and public health outcomes. As a doctoral researcher, you will leverage Bath’s Centre of Excellence in Water-Based Early Warning Systems and its state-of-the-art mass spectrometry facility to analyze water samples from RED ALERT Living Labs. These Living Labs span diverse catchments in England, Wales, and South Africa, each facing unique environmental pressures such as biodiversity loss, wastewater and agricultural pollution, industrial legacies, and impacts from informal settlements. Your work will involve profiling a wide range of chemicals—including household, industrial, and agricultural contaminants—and establishing spatiotemporal trends in their distribution. The project is highly interdisciplinary, integrating bioanalysis, ecotoxicology, chemical risk assessment, and public health. You will triangulate environmental, health, socioeconomic, and demographic data to identify vulnerable populations and pollution hotspots, providing evidence for targeted policy and technological interventions. Training will include advanced analytical and bioanalytical techniques, particularly chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry, and you will have opportunities for secondments with academic, governmental, and industrial partners such as UKHSA, Wessex Water, the Environment Agency, and Stellenbosch University in South Africa. The supervisory team comprises Professors B Kasprzyk-Hordern, C R Tyler, I Durance, D Jones, and JCB Barnett, offering a wealth of expertise and interdisciplinary support. The studentship is tenable for 3.5 years and includes full tuition, a stipend (£20,780 per annum in 2025/6), and a training support budget. Applicants should have or expect a First or Upper Second-Class UK Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field such as chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical or electronic engineering, with a master’s degree advantageous. Non-UK applicants must meet English language requirements. The University of Bath values diversity and encourages applications from under-represented groups. Applications must be submitted via the Red-ALERT CDT online application form by January 19, 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the project link provided.

Project Overview: The NERC RED-ALERT CDT: MycoAlert project at the University of Bath offers a unique opportunity to investigate the growing threat of mycotoxins in food and the environment, with a focus on public health and ecosystem safety. Mycotoxins, toxic compounds produced by fungi, contaminate over 60% of cereals globally and pose significant risks including cancer, organ damage, and immune disorders. This project will correlate mycotoxin presence in crops and urban wastewaters in both the UK and South Africa, providing a comparative analysis of environmental and socio-economic drivers of mycotoxin exposure. Research Focus: The MycoAlert project is highly interdisciplinary, combining fungal pathology, climate-driven disease modelling, analytical chemistry, and biotechnology. The research will be conducted in two 'Living Labs'—the Cam/Wellow catchment in the UK and the Eerste River in South Africa—enabling the study of mycotoxin risks in both temperate and tropical climates. The project will inform public health policies and interventions, aiming to mitigate the real-world threat of mycotoxins in a changing world. It will also contribute to water management and ecosystem safety by assessing the impact of mycotoxins on river catchments. Training and Supervision: The successful candidate will receive comprehensive training in fungal pathology, genomics, mycotoxin analysis, epidemiological modelling, wastewater sampling, and public health policy. Training will be provided by a multidisciplinary team from the University of Bath, University of Exeter, Stellenbosch University, and industry partner Randox Food Diagnostics. Supervisors include Dr N Brown, Prof B Kasprzyk-Hordern, and Prof DB Bebber. Funding: Candidates may be considered for a NERC Red-ALERT studentship tenable for 3.5 years, covering tuition fees, a stipend (£20,780 per annum in 2025/6), and a training support budget. Eligibility: Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a First Class or good Upper Second-Class UK Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject such as biomedical engineering, electronic engineering, chemistry, or biochemistry. A master’s degree is advantageous. Non-UK applicants must meet English language requirements. The University of Bath values diversity and encourages applications from under-represented groups. Application Process: Applications should be submitted via the Red-ALERT CDT online application form by January 19, 2026. For more information, visit the official project page or contact the industrial partner at [email protected].

Project Overview: This PhD studentship at the University of Bath addresses the urgent issue of chemical pollution in rivers, which poses significant risks to biodiversity, ecosystem function, and human health. Persistent pollutants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals (including PFAS) are widespread, with no English river currently in good chemical health. The project aims to provide critical evidence to inform policy, technological, and societal interventions for river health protection. Research Focus: The successful candidate will use advanced chemical fingerprinting, statistical modelling, and geospatial data to identify and quantify the sources of river pollutants—whether industrial, agricultural, domestic, or natural. The research will deliver a One Health framework to capture the complexity of multi-chemical exposures in urban river environments, supporting the development of evidence-based regulatory frameworks for public and environmental health. Methodology: The project leverages Bath’s Centre of Excellence in Water-Based Early-Warning Systems and its state-of-the-art Mass Spectrometry Facility. Techniques include liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, and targeted/non-targeted mass spectrometry (QQQ, QTOF-HRMS, MRT). The student will fingerprint river water samples, establish spatiotemporal chemical trends, conduct risk assessments, and identify pollution hotspots for One Health interventions. Collaboration & Training: The student will work alongside a postdoctoral researcher and data engineer, contributing to the Cam and Wellow One Health digital platform—an integrated decision-support system for collaborative analysis of human and environmental health data. The project is supported by Wessex Water and partners including Bath and East Somerset Council and Bristol Avon Rivers Trust. Training will cover modern analytical techniques, data handling, interdisciplinary research, and policy development, with opportunities for academic, government, and industrial collaboration. Funding & Eligibility: The studentship is funded for 4 years, covering tuition fees, a stipend (£20,780 p/a in 2025/6), and a training support budget. It is open to Home and exceptional International students; however, international applicants must cover relocation, visa, and healthcare surcharge costs. Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or high Upper Second Class UK Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. A master’s qualification is advantageous. Non-UK applicants must meet English language requirements by the deadline. Application Process: Formal applications must be submitted via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Chemistry. In the 'Funding your studies' section, select 'University of Bath URSA' as the studentship. In the 'Your PhD project' section, quote the project title and lead supervisor’s name. Early application is recommended as the position may close before the advertised deadline. Informal enquiries can be directed to Prof Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: The University of Bath values diversity and encourages applications from under-represented groups. Applicants with circumstances affecting educational attainment are invited to include a short paragraph in their personal statement. References & Further Reading: The project builds on recent research in environmental chemistry, water-based epidemiology, and risk assessment, with key references provided in the position description. Learn More: For full details and to apply, visit the FindAPhD project page .

This PhD project at the University of Bath focuses on the automated sensing and identification of chemical and pathogen markers in wastewater, a critical area for advancing water-based epidemiology and public health protection. The research aims to develop a combined sampling and sensing system capable of near real-time, broad monitoring of pathogens and chemicals at wastewater treatment plants and near-source locations such as hospitals, prisons, universities, and care homes. Key research questions include the creation of a digital fingerprint of water quality, understanding the relationships between multiple markers and environmental parameters, and improving the security and efficiency of near-source sample collection using existing wastewater infrastructure. The system will integrate environmental sensors (measuring flow rate, temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity) with membrane sensors in a multi-stage filter stack to capture a wide range of chemical and pathogen markers. These membranes, made from tailored polymer materials, will detect biomarkers such as pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, and disease indicators. The project will also develop a cloud-based data platform to aggregate information from distributed sensors, enabling high-resolution, continuous environmental monitoring. The hardware will be designed for 24-hour deployment, featuring self-contained power, miniaturized sensors, and onboard data logging, with a focus on low-maintenance and secure operation. Research will address challenges in sensor miniaturization, membrane packaging, and the production of low-cost disposable components. The studentship is part of the Centre of Excellence in Water-Based Early-Warning Systems for Health Protection (CWBE), offering the opportunity to contribute to the development of future early warning systems for environmental and public health. Funding is available through a University of Bath studentship, covering tuition fees, a stipend, and a training support budget for 3.5 years. Applicants should have a strong academic background in a relevant field, with a First Class or high Upper Second Class UK Honours degree (or equivalent), and meet English language requirements if applicable. The application process requires submission through the University of Bath’s online portal, with specific instructions for selecting the studentship and referencing the project and supervisor. The university values diversity and encourages applications from under-represented groups.

This PhD project at the University of Bath focuses on the development of advanced near-source sensing systems for chemical and pathogen markers in wastewater, contributing to water-based epidemiology and public health protection. The research aims to address key challenges in real-time tracking of pathogens and chemicals at wastewater treatment plants and near-source locations such as hospitals, universities, prisons, and care homes. The project will explore secure and safe sample collection using existing wastewater infrastructure and investigate the detection capabilities of membrane sensors and separators within a single sampling system. Current water sampling methods are sporadic and influenced by factors like flow rate, temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and pH, which are difficult to measure concurrently. The innovative approach of this project combines multiple environmental sensors (temperature, EC, DO, pH) with pathogen detection, flow rate, and turbidity to create a unique fingerprint of water quality, providing geo-tagged and temporal data relevant to public health. The objective is to design and deploy a combined water sampling and sensing system in various locations, including outlets, pipes, and water courses. The hardware will be integrated with existing wastewater infrastructure, featuring hygienic and secure interfaces and a debris-filtering outlet to ensure sensor reliability. Membrane sensors will utilize biomarker capture materials such as polymers, enabling in-situ extraction of chemical markers (illicit drugs, pharmaceuticals, disease biomarkers) and pathogen identification. The system will be validated in real-world environments, with regular local samples analyzed in the lab. This studentship is part of the Centre of Excellence in Water-Based Early-Warning Systems for Health Protection (CWBE) at the University of Bath. The project offers the opportunity to join a dynamic research environment dedicated to developing future early warning systems for environmental and public health protection. Funding: Candidates may be considered for a University of Bath studentship tenable for 3.5 years, covering tuition fees, a stipend (£20,780 per annum in 2025/6), and access to a training support budget. Eligibility: Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or high Upper Second Class UK Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. A master’s level qualification is advantageous. Non-UK applicants must meet the English language requirement by the application deadline. Application Process: Submit a formal application via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering. In the 'Funding your studies' section, select 'University of Bath URSA' as the studentship. In the 'Your PhD project' section, quote the project title and lead supervisor's name. For informal enquiries, contact Prof Pedro Estrela at [email protected]. The University of Bath values diversity and inclusion, welcoming applications from under-represented groups. If you have circumstances affecting your educational attainment, you are encouraged to mention them in your application.