PhD Studentship: Energy Efficiency, Indoor Environments and Human Health: Economic Appraisal of Interventions

European Centre for Environment and Human Health in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the Penryn Campus in Cornwall.

Measures taken in the built environment to reduce energy consumption (to help achieve net zero goals) can impact on the indoor environment and have positive or negative impacts on human health. For example, action improving insulation may increase thermal comfort within a property and reduce energy bills, but can cause sealing and consequently increased concentrations of indoor air pollutants or mould growth. Some have suggested the need for “whole house solutions” which consider the multiple health and other impacts when deciding on appropriate action.  

This PhD studentship will conduct an assessment of the impacts of policies aimed at improving home energy efficiency on health and use economic methods to evaluate relative costs and benefits. This may include use of health impact assessment methods, statistical analysis of secondary data sources to estimate health impacts, and/or the use of discrete choice experiments to value some health endpoints. 

We are looking for candidates with primarily quantitative skills with an interest in gaining mixed methods experience. This would include those with experience in economics/econometrics seeking to explore epidemiology and policy analysis, those with statistical skills in epidemiology wishing to develop skills in economics and policy. Previous experience of environmental or public health economics, epidemiology or work on energy efficiency would be an advantage, but is not essential. Proficiency in statistical packages such as R or Stata (or similar packages) would be an advantage, although training will be provided.  

Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential. 

The project is based in the Net Positive Centre’s hub in ECEHH, at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall, and may involve visits to stakeholders to gather further data, and placements(s) at the external supervisors’ institutions or with other organisations.   

This opportunity is supported by UKRI through its Securing better health, ageing and wellbeing strategic theme, [grant number ES/Z504245/1] 

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