This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP). The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners: British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science. For further details about the programme please see http://nercgw4plus.ac.uk/
Project Background:
Tyre wear particles are anthropogenic particulates that stem from the abrasion of synthetic rubber tyres on
road surfaces. It is estimated that over 3.4 million tonnes of tyre wear particles are released globally each
year. These particles can become airborne or enter highway drainage systems, often resulting in their
deposition within the natural marine environment. Tyres contain high concentrations of labile additives,
including zinc oxide, antioxidants and plasticizers, that have proven toxic in leachate studies, however the
risk posed by tyre particulates themselves is less evident, nor is it clear whether “greener” iterations of tyres
may prove any less toxic to aquatic biota.
Project Aims and Methods:
In this PhD, you will undertake pioneering ecotoxicological research to explore the mechanisms underpinning
tyre particle toxicity, with a view to identifying greener, safer-by-design options for tyres. The planned work
aims to improve our predictions of the risks posed by tyre wear particles, with wider relevance for
understanding the fundamental ways in which anthropogenic stressors affect organisms. The PhD will
address the overarching research question of “What are the physico-chemical drivers of tyre particle toxicity
and might alternative tyre compositions prove less toxic?”. Across the project, you will work with the
supervisory team to co-develop ecotoxicological studies to evaluate the relative toxicity of different tyre
particles, including “greener” variants. Exposure studies will use representative, fully-characterised tyre wear
particles, in combination with ecologically important marine invertebrates, such as the pelagic copepod
Calanus helgolandicus and the epibenthic mussel Mytilus edulis.
You will consider the adverse risk of tyreparticles and tyre leachates on a range of biomarkers across the biological hierarchy (e.g. immune response, reproductive endpoints) to elucidate potential modes of action and adverse outcome pathways. Latterly, a targeted, chemical-by-chemical approach can be used to compare the toxicity of “high risk” additives with potential alternatives, paving the way for a lower risk chemical future for the tyre industry.
Candidate Requirements:
The project would suit an exemplary candidate with a First or Upper Second class honours degree in
biosciences, chemistry or environmental science. We seek an enthusiastic, dynamic and engaged candidate
with experience and a passion for undertaking high quality laboratory studies, ideally with experience in
ecotoxicological research.
Project Partners:
The student will be primarily based at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), which hosts exceptional
controlled-temperature mesocosms, microscopy suites and an ultraclean microplastic research laboratory,
and access to a unique range of research vessels and interdisciplinary expertise. At the University of Exeter,
the student will have access to state-of-the-art aquarium facilities for marine research, ecotoxicology
laboratories and bio-imaging suites with facilities for molecular, physiological and behavioural studies. This
PhD studentship will benefit from a NERC funded project (“Lost at Sea - where are all the tyre particles? TYRELOSS”; 2021-2025) focussed on understanding the sources, transport, fate and risk of tyre particles in natural ecosystems; this project will support the PhD by providing access to fully-characterised tyre particles and the expertise of a highly invested team of academics.
Training:
This PhD will provide a future research leader with an exciting, dynamic and challenging project in which they
will learn advanced scientific skills in experimental design, data management, statistics and translating
research into practice. The supervisory team and the GW4+ DTP will provide a holistic training platform,
providing excellent interdisciplinary training opportunities in a wide range of employable skills (e.g. statistics,
writing, communication), and the student will have full access to the outstanding training opportunities
offered through the Exeter Graduate School ‘Effective Researcher Development Programme’.
Useful Links:
For information about the application process please contact the Admissions team via [Email Address Removed]
button linking to an application portal. Please note that applications received via other routes including a
standard programme application route will not be considered for the studentship funding.
Eligibility
NERC GW4+ DTP studentships are open to UK and Irish nationals who, if successful in their applications, will receive a full studentship including payment of university tuition fees at the home fees rate.
A limited number of full studentships are also available to international students which are defined as EU (excluding Irish nationals), EEA, Swiss and all other non-UK nationals. For further details please see the NERC GW4+ website.
Those not meeting the nationality and residency requirements to be treated as a ‘home’ student may apply for a limited number of full studentships for international students. Although international students are usually charged a higher tuition fee rate than ‘home’ students, those international students offered a NERC GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership full studentship starting in 2022 will only be charged the ‘home’ tuition fee rate (which will be covered by the studentship).
International applicants need to be aware that you will have to cover the cost of your student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD.
How to apply
In order to formally apply for the PhD Project you will need to go to the following web page.
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/award/?id=4293
The closing date for applications is 1600 hours GMT on Friday 10th January 2022.
Interviews will be held between 28th February and 4th March 2022.
If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email [Email Address Removed] or phone: 0300 555 60 60 (UK callers) or +44 (0) 1392 723044 (EU/International callers). Project-specific queries should be directed to the main supervisor
Continue with Facebook
