Unlocking Flood Health Risks: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Waterborne Disease Pathogen Modelling at Coventry University

Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates
Duration: Full-Time – between three and three and a half years fixed term
Application deadline: 30 April 2024
Interview date: Will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates
Start date: September 2024

Coventry University offers a chance for graduates to join a fully funded PhD program. They’re seeking motivated graduates to delve into the world of numerical modelling of waterborne disease pathogens during flood events. The aim? To understand better how diseases spread and to develop strategies to fight them, especially under changing climate conditions.

Project Overview:

The main goal of this project is to learn more about the risks of waterborne diseases during floods. Every year, diseases caused by pathogens in water lead to millions of deaths. To tackle this, we need better ways to predict how these pathogens spread during floods.

Project Goals:

  1. Develop a New Model: We’ll create a new way to simulate how waterborne pathogens move during floods. This model will combine large-scale movement of pathogens with detailed simulations of river flow. By doing this, we can see how pathogens spread onto floodplains during floods.
  2. Test the Model: We’ll check how accurate our new model is by comparing it to real-world data. This will help us understand if we can rely on our model to predict disease spread.
  3. Analyze Pathogen Spread: We’ll use our model to see how sensitive pathogen spread is to climate change. By simulating different climate scenarios, we can understand how future floods might affect disease spread.

Benefits:

Joining this program means you’ll receive full funding, including tuition fees and a stipend. You’ll also receive comprehensive research training, covering technical, personal, and professional skills. Plus, you’ll be part of Coventry University’s supportive research community.

Entry Requirements:

To apply, you need a good undergraduate degree in a relevant subject and the ability to engage in innovative research. You must also meet English language requirements.

Academic Environment:

Coventry University’s Centre for Agroecology, Water & Resilience (CAWR) is at the forefront of research into social-ecological systems. You’ll have access to cutting-edge facilities and laboratories to support your research.

Essential Criteria:

Applicants should have knowledge in hydraulics, environmental modeling, and infectious diseases. They should also possess strong programming skills and be able to work independently.

Desirable Criteria:

Experience with advanced statistics, programming languages like C# and Python, and laboratory techniques for pathogen analysis are desirable but not essential.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to vital research that could save lives and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Join us at Coventry University and make a difference in the fight against waterborne diseases.