Project Title: Health impacts of low carbon dwellings

Supervisor: Dr Sotiris Vardoulakis (LSHTM) and Dr. Marcella Ucci (UCL)

In order to contribute towards achieving a better quality of the indoor environment, this project will study the environmental and health effects related to the generation, conservation and use of energy in buildings, with a particular focus on the domestic stock.

This interdisciplinary PhD project will focus on the health impacts associated with a range of future domestic energy generation/consumption scenarios for the UK. The study will include an exposure assessment taking into account pollution/heat sources, human behaviour and building characteristics, such as ventilation rates, insulation, and entrainment of outdoor air into the indoor environment. A range of quantitative exposure assessment techniques will be explored, tested and improved. This will involve literature surveys, use and development of mathematical models, and statistical analysis of datasets.

The studentship is available with immediate effect at the Public and Environmental Health Research Unit of LSHTM or the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies (Faculty of the Built Environment) at UCL through the project PUrE-INTRAWISE (Pollutants in the Urban Environment - An Integrated Framework for Improving Sustainability of the Indoor Environment). Applicants may choose to apply for this position either to LSHTM or UCL (but not both). The applicant should choose which institution to apply to according to their scientific background and interests.

Award

The award for the PUrE-INTRAWISE Doctoral Training Grant will cover full tuition fees at home rate and a stipend for a period of three years for eligible applicants.

Eligibility Requirements

The award is only available to UK/EU nationals who have lived in the UK throughout the 3-year period immediately preceding the date of the award.

The ideal candidate would have (or expect to obtain) a good first degree and a Masters degree or equivalent in a scientific or engineering discipline. Knowledge of one or more of the following disciplines would be an advantage: environmental science or engineering, building engineering, building physics, environmental physics, environmental chemistry, mathematical modelling, environmental health, risk analysis, statistics.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should complete the Research Degree Application Form and submit them to either the Registry at LSHTM or or to the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies Faculty Clerk at UCL (annabel.brown@ucl.ac.uk).

Please make sure that you note in your application that you are applying for the 'PUrE-INTRAWISE' studentship.

Registry
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
50 Bedford Square
London
WC1B 3DP  

Tel: 020 7299 4646
Fax: 020 7299 0638
E-mail: registry@lshtm.ac.uk

Deadline for Applications

The deadline for receipt of complete applications is 13th July 2009.

Those shortlisted may be expected to attend for interview shortly after.

Further guidance on making an application can be found by visiting the How to Apply pages of the School's website or on the UCL website.

Further Details

Informal enquiries regarding the project can be made directly to Dr Sotiris Vardoulakis, E-mail: sotiris.vardoulakis@lshtm.ac.uk or Dr. Marcella Ucci, E-mail: m.ucci@ucl.ac.uk