Bioaerosol monitors for building control systems

Applications are invited for a 4 year PhD studentship starting in Autumn 2025 as part of the EPSRC CDT in Aerosol Science

Project description

Bioaerosols, particularly mould spores, pose significant health risks in indoor environments. When inhaled, these micro-scale particulates can trigger a range of adverse health effects, particularly affecting the respiratory system. Allergic reactions such as asthma, and respiratory infections.

Inadequate ventilation, high humidity, and poor maintenance of ventilation systems in buildings exacerbate bioaerosol proliferation, increasing the risk of exposure. Consequently, understanding and mitigating bioaerosol presence in indoor environments is crucial for safeguarding public health, reducing healthcare costs, and improving overall indoor air quality and occupant well-being.

Currently, there exists no real-time online methodology for monitoring of bioaerosols beyond high-cost, research grade systems (such as the DMT WIBS, or the Swisens Poleno). 

Building control systems, such as those produced by Siemens, are used to monitor and control the atmosphere within a building using a combination of sensors and automation of Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. This project aims to evaluate a sensor – developed by the University of Hertfordshire‘s Particle Instruments & Diagnostics (PID) research group – for bioaerosol which will integrate with such a system, to help limit workplace exposure to bioaerosols.

The successful candidate will evaluate the performance of this Bio-OPC in the laboratory, to characterise its response to fluorophores of known size, quantum yield, and extinction coefficient. The candidate will work alongside members of PID to improve and iterate the design of the OPC following feedback from the trials.

The Bio-OPC will then be exposed to fungal spores, and the response assessed for discriminating factors that will allow positive identification of spores in a realistic indoor environment. This will be undertaken at the University of Hertfordshire’s Wolfson Centre for Bioaerosol Instrumentation Research, in a combination of wind-tunnels and new aerosol laboratories (opened August 2024).

Siemens will provide access to international real-world settings for data collection, such as office buildings under a range of occupancy conditions. During the field campaign, bioaerosols data will be collected using the Bio-OPC and reference methods in parallel with building data collection, including HVAC settings, occupancy, temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, etc. The candidate will develop methodologies to leverage real-time bioaerosol data for building automation, such as health-focused HVAC control or mitigation strategies.

Prof. Chris Stopford, c.stopford@herts.ac.uk, would be pleased to discuss this research project further with interested candidates.

About the Centre for Doctoral training in Aerosol Science

Aerosol science is crucial to disciplines as broad ranging as transmission of disease, drug delivery to the lungs, climate change, energy and combustion science, novel materials, and consumer and agricultural products.

An aerosol is any collection of particles dispersed in a gas. The CDT brings together a multi-disciplinary team of 80 post-graduate students and academics from 7 UK universities spanning the physical, environmental and health sciences, and engineering. Our aim is to tackle the global challenges in which aerosol science is key.

Further details are available from our website: https://www.aerosol-cdt.ac.uk/

Doctoral Training in Aerosol Science

During your doctorate, you will learn to research in diverse multidisciplinary teams, gain an advanced understanding of the core physical science of aerosols, and collaborate with industrial and public sector partners, equipping you to undertake ground-breaking research in aerosol science.

During the first 7 months of your PhD, you will join the CDT cohort based at the University of Bristol. Core training in aerosol science, research methods, professionalism and translation will be delivered by Team Based Learning. You will then undertake a short research project at your home or partner institution before starting your PhD research. You will gain experience outside academia in a placement with an industrial/public sector partner in Year 2 or 3.

More Information and How to Apply

Candidates who aspire to work in a multidisciplinary field, and hold or will achieve a minimum of an upper second-class undergraduate degree in any of these areas are encouraged to apply: chemistry, physics, biological sciences, life and medical sciences, mathematics and computer science, chemical and mechanical engineering, pharmaceutical and environmental sciences.

Visit our website:                                             Contact us:

https://www.aerosol-cdt.ac.uk/                    aerosol-science@bristol.ac.uk

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to furthering issues of equality, diversity and inclusion. We recognise the benefits of recruiting a diverse group of students to the Aerosol CDT and strive to avoid any conscious or unconscious bias in our recruitment. The needs of individuals will be accommodated during the recruitment process and while studying with the CDT. Further information on our commitment to equality and diversity can be found on our website.