Emma Lucas

This fully funded PhD project, part of the BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (YBDTP), investigates the reproductive and developmental impacts of e-cigarette exposure using a mouse model. Hosted at the University of Sheffield's School of Medicine and Population Health, the project is supervised by Dr Adam Watkins, with co-supervision from Dr Emma Lucas (University of Sheffield) and Dr Mari Herigstad (Sheffield Hallam University). The research addresses a critical gap in our understanding of how vaping, increasingly common as a perceived safer alternative to smoking, affects reproductive health and offspring development. The project will use a mouse model to deliver soluble e-cigarette solutions via inhalation, enabling the study of physiological, cellular, and molecular mechanisms linking parental e-cigarette exposure to changes in sperm and egg quality, embryo development, and offspring health. The successful candidate will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary doctoral training environment, benefiting from regional collaboration across leading Yorkshire and Teesside universities. The YBDTP provides comprehensive training in biosciences, data analysis, and professional skills, preparing graduates for both academic and non-academic careers. The studentship is open to UK, EU, and international applicants with at least an upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline. The programme values diversity and encourages applications from underrepresented groups. Funding covers a four-year UKRI stipend (£20,780 for 2025/26), research costs, and UK tuition fees, with a limited number of full studentships available for exceptional international candidates. Applicants must meet the host university's entry and English language requirements. The application deadline is 7 January 2026, with interviews in February 2025. For more information or informal enquiries, contact Dr Adam Watkins ([email protected]).