This project is an
EPSRC IDLA studentship based in the MRC Toxicology Unit at the University of
Cambridge, and with partners at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the
company Emissions Analytics.
This studentship is
for four years commencing 1st October 2026 (MT26). As prevalence of electric
vehicles increases in the transition to net zero, particulate emission from
exhausts have declined significantly.
Brake, tyre, and road
wear particles have emerged as the dominant source of particulate pollutants
from road transport. These non-exhaust emissions pose a growing occupational
health risk.
This project aims to
characterise occupational exposure of the estimated one million affected UK
workers (maintenance workers, bus/lorry drivers, delivery staff etc.) via
roadside testing and assess associated health risks by undertaking cell
exposure campaigns.
By performing source
apportionment analysis, with the help of machine learning, the data will
pinpoint sources of the emissions and subsequently inform mitigation
strategies, revolutionising the understanding of the harm of these pollutants.
The research aligns
with EPSRC’s energy and decarbonisation theme and supports the Engineering Net
Zero strategic priority by addressing an overlooked consequence of the electric
vehicle transition.
This project requires
the student to develop novel, rigorous measurement techniques for a
poorly-characterised pollutant source. It demands interdisciplinary thinking
across metrology, environmental science, air quality and occupational health
which will be reflected through cross-department collaboration.
The student will gain
expertise in experimental design, novel data analysis, and policy-relevant
research, contributing original insights to a high-impact, emerging field.
This project will
deliver new measurement methods for occupational exposure to non-exhaust
emissions, including validated sampling protocols, uncertainty models, and
exposure datasets. These outputs will inform future standards and UK policy on
air quality and worker health.
The research is
high-risk due to the lack of existing frameworks but positions NPL at the
forefront of emerging air quality challenges. It meets HRHR criteria by
tackling a novel, underexplored area with significant sampling challenges. As
EVs shift pollutant profiles, new risks emerge.
This work could
pioneer measurement approaches, inform regulation, and transform occupational
health policy, improving worker protection in a decarbonised transport future.
The studentship will
include at least a 3-month placement with NPL (Teddington, London) and benefits
from membership of NPL’s post-graduate institute (PGI), accessing training,
expertise on metrology and participation in cohort activities and networking events.