PhD Studentship - Space-based Constraints on UK Ammonia Emissions and Air Quality Impacts

Faculty of Environment EPSRC Project Proposals 24-25

Eligibility: UK applicants only

Funding

A full-time PhD scholarship in the School of Earth and Environment for a UK candidate, covering a maintenance stipend matching UKRI (currently £19,237 in 2024/25) and UK tuition fees for 3.5 years, subject to satisfactory progress. The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to two and a half years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.

• Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree.
• Awards must be taken up by 1st October 2024.
• Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship.

Lead Supervisor’s full name & email address

Dr. Wuhu Feng, W.Feng@leeds.ac.uk

Co-supervisor name(s) & email address(s) (optional)

Dr. Richard Pope, R.J.Pope@leeds.ac.uk

Project summary

We are offering an exciting PhD opportunity, in the School of Earth and Environment, to undertake novel research targeting one of the major air quality challenges facing the UK – the ammonia problem! Ammonia (NH3) is emitted primarily from diffuse agricultural sources and difficult to quantify for legislative purposes. Unlike other air pollutants, gaseous NH3 emissions have not decreased over recent decades and continue to promote extensive formation of ammonium nitrate aerosol – a hazardous air pollutant. Therefore, this project aims to exploit state-of-the-art satellite observations and modelling to better constrain NH3 emissions, their temporal changes (from a legislative point of view) and to quantify the impact of these emissions changes on key air pollutants such as PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 microns).

For further information, including an outline PhD plan, please see the project page on the University of Leeds website.

Please state your entry requirements plus any necessary or desired background

Applicants to this scholarship in the School of Earth and Environment should normally have an Upper Second or First class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent) in a qualitative discipline such as Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Physical Geography, Computer Sciences, Natural Sciences.

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