JCB Barnett

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: 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 opportunity at the University of Bath’s Department of Chemistry offers a unique chance to contribute to the protection of river ecosystems and public health by evaluating the impacts of hazardous chemicals on rivers. The project is part of the Cam and Wellow programme and is based in the Centre of Excellence in Water-Based Early-Warning Systems for Health Protection, supported by Wessex Water and regional partners. Hazardous chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, PFAS, pesticides, flame retardants, and metals are increasingly found in river environments due to wastewater, agricultural, and road runoff. These pollutants threaten biodiversity and ecological integrity, making urgent action necessary. The research aims to provide robust data and evidence to inform policy and drive disruptive change in pollution control. The successful candidate will apply advanced water fingerprinting and mass spectrometry techniques (including liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, QQQ, QTOF-HRMS, MRT) to analyze a wide range of chemical pollutants in the Cam and Wellow Rivers. The project will establish new frameworks for targeted spatiotemporal profiling, analyze water, sediment, and soil samples, and triangulate data to assess river health and the effectiveness of pollution control interventions. Working alongside a postdoctoral researcher and data engineer, the student will help develop the Cam and Wellow One Health digital platform, an integrated decision-support system for collaborative analysis and geo-spatial insights across human and environmental health. This platform aims to unify understanding of complex health challenges and enable data-driven strategies for prevention and coordinated response. Training will be provided in modern analytical techniques, data handling, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The student will join a vibrant research team with expertise in environmental and analytical chemistry, and benefit from excellent research infrastructure. Opportunities for academic, government, and industrial research experience, as well as involvement in public health policy development, are available. Funding is available through a University of Bath studentship, covering tuition fees, a generous stipend (£20,780 p/a in 2025/6), and a training support budget for four years. The studentship is open to both Home and exceptional International students, though international applicants must cover their own 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 such as chemistry or environmental science. A master’s qualification is advantageous. Non-UK applicants must meet English language requirements. The university values diversity and encourages applications from under-represented groups. To apply, submit a formal application via the University of Bath’s online system for a PhD in Chemistry, selecting 'University of Bath URSA' as the studentship and quoting the project title and lead supervisor’s name. Early application is recommended as the position may close before the advertised deadline.