Environment and Health PhD

Environmental factors influence our health and wellbeing, as well as affect ecosystems and wildlife. An intimate understanding of such factors – chemical substances, for example, or changes in radiation or temperature – is urgently needed to better understand disease trends in humans and adverse effects on wildlife. Our research in the area of environment and health provides the foundations necessary to pinpoint preventable causes of ill-health and adversity and to underpin the development of evidence-based primary prevention policies. A second important focus for our research is to understand the impacts of human civilisation on Earth's natural systems and the ecosystem services that support us. We are developing technologies and approaches to prevent and remedy pollution as well as to renew and restore degraded ecosystems.

Our research focuses on five areas:

• Biological Pathways and Systems
• Environmental Health and Ecosystems
• Environmental Change
• Environmental Solutions
• Environmental Policy and Communication

Membership of London NERC – DTPs 
Staff from Environment and Health participate in the London NERC Doctoral Training Programme (DTP), a program that currently funds 70 PhD students in the natural sciences.  The aim of the London NERC DTC is to attain new standards of excellence in environmental science research training and deliver a transformative inter-disciplinary experience for PhD students in the heart of London. Students are trained at 9 of the World-leading research centres, which cover a huge range of environmental science research, from those driven by contemporary environmental challenges to those exploring complex questions about the evolution of planet Earth.  Student projects within Environment and Health are mainly in the themes of Environmental Pollution, Natural and Biological Hazards and Past Life and the Environment. 

The Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.

Our research revealing the link between chemicals in rivers and reproductive health has won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. By uncovering a link between exposure to water pollution and sex change in male fish in UK rivers, Professor John Sumpter’s research team provided the impetus for human health research also linking chemical exposure with declining sperm counts, increased incidence of male genital abnormalities, and testicular, breast and prostate cancer in human populations.

Find out about the exciting research we do in this area. Browse profiles of our experts, discover the research groups and their inspirational research activities you too could be part of. We’ve also made available extensive reading materials published by our academics and PhD students.  

Learn more about research in this area.

Our researchers create knowledge and advance understanding, and equip versatile doctoral researchers with the confidence to apply what they have learnt for the benefit of society. Find out more about working with the Supervisory Team.

You are welcome to approach your potential supervisor directly to discuss your research interests. Search for expert supervisors for your chosen field of research.

While we welcome all multidisciplinary topics in the area of Environment and Health here is a list of potential research areas we would like to supervise.

• Development of a novel assay for testing androgens and anti-androgens in fish. 
• Degradation and Transformation of Pharmaceuticals in the Environment 
• Development of a novel model to quantify nitrous oxide emissions in the biological nutrient removal process of wastewater treatment plants
• Human Toxicology and Epigenetics 
• Development of an evidence-based risk management system for Legionella control in domestic water systems.
• Identification of microplastics in freshwater environments

While we welcome applications from student with a clear direction for their research, we are providing you with some ideas for your chosen field of research:

This course can be studied 3 years full-time, starting in January. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time, starting in October. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time, starting in April.

Doctoral students graduating from Brunel University London in Environment and Health are highly valued by numerous employers and attain prominent roles as academics, PDRAs and Research Fellows in prestigious Universities worldwide.  Some graduates find influential roles in Government Agencies, such as the Environment Agency and Food and Environmental Research Agency, or as environmental managers and ecotoxicologists in Industry, including Syngenta, Atkins and Proctor and Gamble.  PhD Graduates have also joined various environmental consultancies as analysts, or have established their own consultancies serving on several National and International committees (e.g. OECD) dealing with current health/environment issues.

The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (1st or 2:1). 

An interview will be required as part of the admissions process and will be conducted by at least two academic staff members remotely via MS Teams, Zoom, or face to face.

Applicants will be required to submit a personal statement and a research statement.
Please contact your proposed supervisor, where possible, to receive feedback and guidance on your research statement before submitting it. Learn how to prepare a research statement here.  

• IELTS: 7 (min 6 in all areas)
• Pearson: 64 (59 in all subscores)
• BrunELT: 68% (58% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 98 overall (min 20)