King's College London Health Schools are seeking candidates of academic excellence to undertake PhD studentships in Health Sciences. In conjunction with Air Monitors Ltd ( Air Quality Monitoring) we are pleased to offer a studentship in black carbon measurement.

A better understanding of black carbon concentrations, emission sources and trends are needed to bring about improved policies to control ambient particle concentrations to meet EU Limit Values, and to minimise the health effects of air pollution. There is also a need to improved measurements of black carbon in order to track changes in emissions of particles from tail pipe combustion and to determine any air quality impacts of increased burning of wood for space heating. The climate change implications of black carbon emissions provide a further imperative for a more comprehensive understanding of this area.

Standard methods for the measurement of carbon in airborne particles are fraught with challenges, including sampling and analytical difficulties. The measurement of black carbon by aethalometer provides a real-time alternative. The PhD will develop protocols and conduct investigations using three aethalometer variants, namely a field sampler, a personal exposure measurement device and a laboratory based tool. The PhD will also utilise measurements from the UK aethalometer network. Analysis methods will be tested in the UK setting and cross referenced with measurements of particle composition and properties from the NERC ClearfLo project (NE/H003231/1).Results will contribute to the MRC NERC Traffic Pollution and Health Study (NE/1007806/1).

As a CASE partner, Air Monitors Ltd will provide technical advice, equipment and commercial training as well as linkages to the manufacture’s research and development team (Aerosol Si and Magee Scientific).

The deadline for applications is 2nd December 2012.

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Item date 16/11/2011