PhD studentship opportunities in Mechanistic Research in Environment and Health

We are pleased to invite applications for 3-year PhD studentships in the MRC Centre for Environment and Health and two NIHR Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health and in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards.

Our mission is to train the next generation of scientist’s able to exploit analytical sciences and mechanistic laboratory-based research to establish the causal pathways by which environmental exposures lead to disease. Students are supported by a bespoke training programme to ensure they are equipped with the appropriate skills and experience.

We are seeking outstanding candidates for studentships in the following areas:

• Environmental drivers of epigenetic ageing: Ageing is one of the principal risk factors for non-communicable diseases. It has been proposed that DNA methylation may represent a good predictor of age-related diseases and mortality risk and therefore in this study we wish to examine whether long-term exposure to urban air pollution, particularly that derived from traffic emissions, promote these air-related changes. This project will align with the Children’s Health in London and Luton and Airwave cohorts. A strong background in molecular sciences and bioinformatics would be desirable prerequisites for this project, which aligns with the Molecular Signatures and Disease Pathways theme within the MRC Centre for Environment & Health and the Air Pollution and Health and the Biomarkers of exposure and effect themes within the Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures & Health.
• Advanced material toxicity: New materials (advanced polymers, fibres, composites, nanomaterials) are constantly being developed and applied in products with the potential for human inhalation exposure. Assessing their potential toxicity is an ever-growing issue. To address this challenge this project will use advanced aerosol-exposure air-liquid-interface systems to mimic realistic human respiratory system exposure scenarios and ‘omics and other analytical techniques to understand their biological responses. The successful student will be based (75%) at the UKHSA Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards Laboratories in Oxfordshire.

For more information, and instructions on how to apply, please visit environment-health.ac.uk/training-opportunities/.

The MRC Centre and the NIHR HPRUs are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment.

The closing date for applications is 6^th December 2021, and studentships are expected to start no later than October 2022.