AI as Pollution Detectives: Machine Learning to Uncover Hidden Sources of Pollution in Port Cities (for a Net Zero Future)

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Maritime Energy solutions (N0MES) has a 4-year funded PhD place available for an exceptional researcher. With the support of the University of Liverpool (UoL), Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and 33 maritime energy sector partners, N0MES PGRs will pursue new, engineering-centred, interdisciplinary research to address four vital net zero challenges currently facing the North West, the UK and beyond:

a) Energy generation using maritime-based renewable energy (e.g. offshore wind, tidal, wave, floating solar, hydrogen, CCS);

b) Distributing energy from offshore to onshore, including port- and hinterland-side impacts and opportunities;

c) Addressing the short- and long-term environmental impacts of offshore and maritime

environment renewable energy generation, distribution and storage; and

d) Decommissioning and lifetime extension of existing energy and facilities.

This PhD Project

Air pollution has significant impact on human health, increasing the risk of heart and respiratory diseases, as well as lung cancer and strokes. Yet WHO data show that 99% the global population breathe in polluted air (i.e. air exceeding WHO air pollution guideline level). With regards to air pollution, a major challenge that public health bodies and authorities have to deal with is to identify the sources of pollution. Without understanding what is the cause of air pollution, it is not possible to create specific and effective solutions to address the problem. In addition, pollutants from different sources, even if belonging to the same type, may have very different levels of harmfulness. For example, particulate matters (PM) from ships’ diesel exhaust are a lot more harmful to human body than PM from desert dust. Thus, better understanding of the source of pollutants will allow better and more targeted measures to reduce harm.

The needs to identify sources of pollution is even more pressing in port cities, where higher and more diverse ranges of outdoor air pollution have been reported due to ship emissions, cargo handling activities, land-based cargo traffic, and surrounding industrial zones.

This PhD research aims to address the problem of identifying pollution sources in port cities by harnessing the power of cutting-edge machine learning / data analytics techniques and untapped data sources, allowing local authorities and public health bodies to target regulations and interventions to protect public health. It will also investigate the impact of net zero strategies generally associated with future port cities, such as green shipping, renewable energy and regeneration, on outdoor air pollution and its sources.

The successful candidate will work as a team with other PhD students in the domain of air quality and maritime net zero, under the supervision of a multidisciplinary supervision team comprising LJMU academics, local authorities and public health/air quality experts. You will join the world-leading LOOM research-institute in an inclusive environment, collaborating with 40 other PhD/postdoc researchers. In addition, you will have the unique opportunity to undertake funded secondments to Sefton Council and industry to enhance your experience/network, access real-world applications, and gain career opportunities.

Click here for more information about the N0MES centre at LJMU, the LOOM research centre where the researcher will be hosted, and our research capability.

Applications

We want all of our staff and Students to feel that Liverpool is an inclusive and welcoming environment that actively celebrates and encourages diversity. We are committed to working with students to make all reasonable project adaptations including supporting those with caring responsibilities, disabilities or other personal circumstances. For example, if you have a disability you may be entitled to a Disabled Students Allowance on top of your studentship to help cover the costs of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result.

We believe everyone deserves an excellent education and encourage students from all backgrounds and personal circumstances to apply. an appropriate field of Engineering. Exceptional candidates with a First Class Bachelor’s Degree in an appropriate field will also be considered. 

Important Application Process

Candidates wishing to apply should send your application to Dr Ran Wang R.Wang@ljmu.ac.uk and Prof. Trung Thanh Nguyen T.T.Nguyen@ljmu.ac.uk, with an email title starting with “PhD scholarship in the N0MES CDT” followed by the title of this project. Please send the below: an up-to-date CV and a transcript, and a supporting statement [maximum 300 words] detailing; what inspires you within this project, how your skill set matches the project, up to 3 examples showing your commitment to science, piece of science that excites you & anything else to support your application.