C R Tyler

This PhD project, hosted by the University of Bath within the NERC Red-ALERT Centre for Doctoral Training, aims to develop a portable, low-cost device for the rapid in situ detection of electrochemically-active pollutants in water, using diazinon as a case study. Diazinon is a highly toxic organophosphate, and its detection at low concentrations in river water is critical for environmental protection and compliance with freshwater Environmental Quality Standards. The research will focus on integrating sample pre-concentration using functionalised magnetic beads, advanced electrochemical sensing (such as voltametric methods), and cloud-based data transmission. Key tasks include assessing the toxicity of diazinon to UK freshwater invertebrates, developing and optimising electrochemical sensors, automating analysis and data processing, enhancing detection limits through analyte pre-concentration, adapting the technology for other pollutants, and creating a multiplexed sensor prototype. This interdisciplinary project merges expertise in electrochemistry, sensor development, basic electronics, ecotoxicology, and technology translation for water pollution assessment. Students will receive comprehensive training in engineering systems, microfluidics, biomolecular immobilisation, device development, ecotoxicology, data analysis, and interdisciplinary communication. 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, and non-UK applicants must meet English language requirements. The project is open to diverse candidates and encourages applications from under-represented groups. Funding is available through the NERC Red-ALERT studentship, covering tuition fees, a stipend (£20,780 p/a 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 more information, visit the project link or contact the industrial partner at [email protected].

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.