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Applications are invited for a fully-funded three year PhD to commence in October 2026.

The PhD will be based in the Faculty of Science and Health, and will be supervised by Dr Kabari Sam, Professor Gary Fones and Dr Mo Hoque.

Candidates applying for this project may be eligible to compete for one of a small number of bursaries available. Successful applicants will receive a bursary to cover tuition fees for three years and a stipend in line with the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26). Bursary recipients will also receive a £1,500 p.a. for project costs/consumables.

Costs for student visa and immigration health surcharge are not covered by this bursary. For further guidance and advice visit our international and EU students ‘Visa FAQs’ page.

This funded PhD is only open to new students who do not hold a previous doctoral level qualification.

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are contaminants of major international concern. They are a diverse group of synthetic chemicals used in a wide range of industries (e.g. fire-fighting foams, adhesives, waxes, non-stick cookware etc.), and are now ubiquitous in the environment, impacting soil, sediment and water systems. Many PFAS sites across the UK exceed 1000 ng L^-1, especially near landfills, sewage treatment plants, and industrial zones, with widespread presence in surface and groundwater, soil, and sediments. PFAS are chemically stable and, resistant to heat and degradation, which allows them to move through environmental media over long distances. Their mobility in environmental matrices can lead to widespread contamination of groundwater and surface water sources, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Regardless of the environmental media, most PFAS will persist virtually unchanged, thus, they are commonly called “forever chemicals”. This persistence and toxicity potential has raised public concerns regarding their potential health and ecological impacts, particularly as they are difficult to manage, mitigate or remediate]. Studies indicate PFAS exposure could cause cancer, immune system suppression and developmental issues, making them a significant public health concern. Also, considering the global distribution of PFAS driven by their extensive use and environmental persistence, knowledge gaps in their fate and transport mechanisms complicates efforts to predict spread of contamination, informed risk assessment, and hinders measures to effectively manage and mitigate their impacts. Their transport and fate are influenced by complex interactions among soil properties, hydrological catchment processes, and chemical characteristics. Understanding these dynamics is critical for assessing exposure risks, long-term impacts, informed remediation strategies, and guiding regulatory policies. Therefore, innovative strategies for modelling exposures, interactions with different media, input and removal rates in different environmental systems, environmental fate and transport are essential to mitigate the continuing and future threats posed by PFAS contamination.

How to apply

Please note that email applications are not accepted. If you have any project-specific questions please contact Dr Kabari Sam  (Kabari.sam@port.ac.uk) to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project code.

When you are ready to apply, please use this . Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV. Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process.

If you want to be considered for this funded PhD opportunity you must quote project code ELS50580126 when applying.