NIHR CLEAN-Air(Africa) Unit: Addressing Disease Burden from Reliance on Polluting Household and Institutional Energy in sub-Saharan Africa

We are seeking an enthusiastic, diligent and driven Masters graduate with strong quantitative and statistical skills to join our established and impactful multi-disciplinary team as a PhD student. The student will conduct a research project to help address a global public health priority connected to our multi-year, multi-center global public health research and capacity building programme in West, Central and East Africa. Household and Institutional (e.g. Schools) air pollution is the biggest environmental risk factor for global disease burden responsible for an estimated 700,000 premature deaths each year in sub-Saharan Africa (more than HIV/Aids, Malaria and TB).

The PhD post is associated with our NIHR CLEAN-Air(Africa) Global Health Research Unit (2022-2027, £7million) and is part of the Energy, Air Pollution and Health Research Group at the Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool. CLEAN-Air(Africa) aims to provide policy relevant research evidence to help address air pollution related disease burden through harm minimization (reduced exposure) and prevention (transition to clean energy) with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) time horizon of 2030. The Unit’s programme builds on the substantial success and impact of our CLEAN-Air(Africa) Global Health Research Group (2018 to 2022: see www.cleanairafrica.com). CLEAN-Air(Africa) is conducting impactful mixed-methods research to address this global public health priority across five focus African countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Cameroon.  

We are looking to appoint a Master’s graduate with some experience working in the field of household air pollution (HAP), ambient air pollution or a similar environmental field, preferably with some experience in environmental exposure assessment understanding the impacts of this exposure on public health. The candidate’s research project will be connected to understanding how interventions to switch from polluting to cleaner fuels and energy (e.g. cooking in households and/or public institutions) can positively impact health and the environment through reductions in air pollution. The research could involve analysis of HAP exposure data (e.g. fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations) relating this to use of polluting fuels (e.g. stove use monitoring (SUM) data for cooking) and survey data (e.g. health impacts) to address a variety of research questions that will be developed by the student in consultation with the research team. Topics will include the climate and health impacts of cooking with polluting fuels (e.g., wood, charcoal) or strategies that enhance the use of cleaner cooking fuels (e.g., gas, electricity) across sub-Saharan African focus countries. Experience with data management and analysis of complex datasets using statistical software (e.g. Stata, R, Python) is important for this position, although engagement with communities reliant on polluting fuels with suitable research methods could also be considered for the chosen doctoral research. Prior work experience in predictive or epidemiological modelling in the field of environmental health or climate would be an asset.

The PhD student will work closely with multi-disciplinary researchers from the Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems (University of Liverpool) and with researchers from leading academic, clinical and research organisations in East Africa and Cameroon. They will contribute to the design and analysis of observational studies or randomized controlled trials of household energy interventions that fall within the CLEAN-Air(Africa) Global Health Research Unit’s remit. In addition to their focussed research project, the student will be able to advise on study methods, lead data analysis, help deliver training on air monitoring and assist in project coordination of related study components (e.g., surveys, air pollution exposure measurements, etc.) under the supervision of the Unit’s Quantitative Lead and the Unit’s Directorship (main Directors and Deputy Director).

The research carried out by the PhD student will contribute to a global public health priority with direct relevance to the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals. As such, results are anticipated to be highly impactful and timely dissemination of results/ knowledge exchange will be a key priority for the research, beyond the academic thesis. The student will therefore be responsible for disseminating findings to academic audiences through publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journal articles and reports to lay/ stakeholder audiences involved in policy making, in co-ordination with other senior colleagues.

The candidate should have a Masters degree (submitted or awarded) in a relevant discipline. The candidate is expected to start on January or February 2025 and to submit their dissertation by the end of three years doctoral period.

To apply for the position, please email Ms Mandy Ellison (m.ellison@liverpool.ac.uk), attaching a covering letter, CV and details of 2 referees.  For informal enquiries about the post please contact Prof. Pope (danpope@liverpool.ac.uk).

Should the candidate be shortlisted for interview, they will be contacted by email to confirm a date for the interview.