PhD Studentship – Understanding the Relationship Between Indoor Air Quality in Schools and Asthma and Educational Outcomes
Swansea University
Location: Swansea, United Kingdom
General Description – include all relevant details from the source
Swansea University, in partnership with Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship exploring the relationship between indoor air quality in schools and asthma and educational outcomes. This studentship is part of the HDR UK Inflammation and Immunity Driver Programme and offers an interdisciplinary research environment. The successful candidate will undertake original research to investigate whether poorer indoor air quality within school settings is associated with worse respiratory health and educational outcomes, considering socioeconomic deprivation and its role in observed associations. The project will leverage nationwide routinely collected data available through the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) databank, linking health, education, and deprivation data such as the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) and modelled air quality datasets. The student will develop appropriate statistical and data science models, including multilevel modelling for spatial dependencies, to assess these relationships. The studentship includes opportunities to engage with stakeholders, contribute to policy and practice translation, and access training through HDR UK Futures and the Social & Environmental Determinants of Health Driver Programme. Supported by the CHILI Hub, this research aligns with a broader initiative to understand how school environments impact children’s health and learning, especially as buildings are adapted for environmental sustainability.
Eligibility Criteria
Open only to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate as defined by UKCISA; due to funding restrictions this studentship is restricted to UK fee‑eligible applicants.
Applicants for the PhD must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master’s degree. Applicants with a first class honours undergraduate degree (or non‑UK equivalent) without a master’s degree may be considered on an individual basis.
Required expertise/skills
Candidates with qualifications in mathematics, computer science, or a health‑related discipline are particularly encouraged to apply.
Desirable experience includes programming in MATLAB, Python, or R, and previous research experience with healthcare datasets or electronic health records.
English language proficiency may be required: IELTS 6.5 overall (with no component below 6.5) or a recognised equivalent.
Salary details
The studentship covers the full cost of tuition fees and provides an annual stipend at the UKRI rate, currently £20,780 for the 2025/26 academic year.
Application Deadline
Applications must be submitted by 23 June 2025 for a planned start date of 1 October 2025.