Fully Funded Studentship: Investigation of PFAS occurrence and transformation in UK receiving waters

This is a fully funded PhD studentship focused on investigating per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in UK water systems. The project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between Brunel University of London and Affinity Water. The research aims to determine the occurrence and transformation of PFAS in surface water and groundwater impacting the environment and drinking water supplies. The studentship addresses significant knowledge gaps concerning the fate of PFAS, including limited monitoring in environmental compartments and the transformation processes that may convert PFAS into other forms. The student will receive extensive multidisciplinary training in fieldwork, analytical chemistry, and data science. The work will be approximately a 50:50 split between wet lab work and computational analysis, developing capabilities in both areas. The research is critical for understanding how PFAS undergo degradation and transformation, helping to interpret monitoring data and understand potential sources of measured PFAS across catchments.