PhD Studentship: From plankton to people: Marine bioaerosols and human respiratory health

People living and working near the coast are exposed to sea spray aerosols containing biologically active compounds derived from marine planktonic microorganism. Climate change is altering plankton communities through ocean warming, marine heatwaves and ecosystem shifts, potentially changing the composition of these aerosols and their effects on human health.

This project will investigate:

1. how sea spray aerosol composition varies with plankton communities;
2. which bioactive compounds are transferred from marine ecosystems to the atmosphere;
3. how human lung cells respond to environmentally relevant aerosol exposures; and
4. how climate-driven ecosystem change may alter coastal air quality and respiratory health.

These questions address a major knowledge gap at the interface of ocean science, atmospheric chemistry and human health.

The Doctoral Researcher (DR) will combine field observations, laboratory analyses and experimental approaches. They will collect aerosol samples at the Penlee Point Atmospheric Observatory (PPAO), characterise their chemical composition and identify candidate bioactive compounds. In parallel, plankton observations from the Western Channel Observatory (WCO) time series station will be analysed to determine links between ecosystem structure and aerosol chemistry. Human lung-cell experiments will assess biological responses to aerosol exposure, while relationships between plankton communities and aerosol composition will be used to explore future climate-related risks.

The DR will receive interdisciplinary training in marine ecology, aerosol chemistry, analytical techniques, cell-culture methods, data science, statistical analysis, scientific writing, communication and stakeholder engagement. They will work across the University of Exeter and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), benefiting from internationally recognised expertise, facilities and long-term observational datasets.

While the overarching themes are defined, specific research questions, experimental and analytical approaches, data analysis and publications/presentations will be directed by the DR, allowing them to shape the project direction and lead decisions according to their interests and develop as an independent researcher within a closely integrated GW4+ partnership.

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