How does the formation mechanism of atmospheric aerosol particles affect PM2.5 toxicity in Beijing ?

The overall aim of this PhD project is to explore the formation mechanism of aerosol particles in the atmosphere, and their consequent toxicity, in the context of a forthcoming major field campaign in Beijing.

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is produced from a range of direct emission sources (primary particles), and through within-atmosphere chemical processes (secondary particles, especially PM2.5). Secondary aerosol account for over 70 % of the fine particle budget during pollution events in Beijing and many other cities worldwide - however it is uncertain which mechanism(s) dominate PM formation, and how this may affect the toxicity of the resulting PM. Within this project, we will use a combination of planned and new observations to assess the dominant mechanisms for secondary PM formation during haze events in Beijing; replicate the observed PM formation by individual mechanisms in isolation under the controlled conditions of an atmospheric simulation chamber, and assess the toxicity of the PM2.5 particles formed through these contrasting mechanisms.

The Doctoral Researcher will be supervised by Dr William Bloss and Dr Zongbo Shi, and will join a group of over 40 postdoctoral researchers and PhD students in the atmospheric science / air quality research team at Birmingham. They will participate in planning and performing field and chamber measurements in Beijing, alongside other researchers and PhD students, and perform laboratory analyses on the resulting samples in Birmingham.

This specific project is fully funded (fees, living costs/stipend, research costs) through the NERC Air Pollution and Human Health / NCAS Air Quality Studentships programme. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with a final deadline of 31 March 2016. The studentship will start in Autumn 2016.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Bloss ([Email Address Removed]) or Dr Shi ([Email Address Removed]) for informal discussion.