Effects of exposome on chronic lung health in ageing population of rural and coastal areas of the UK

About the Project

Do you want to shed light on place-based health inequalities and contribute to improving the health and wellbeing outcomes experienced by rural, coastal and remote communities?

Applications are invited for fully funded, three-year PhD Studentships within the Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health (LIRCH), the country’s first integrated, multidisciplinary research Institute dedicated to rural and coastal health research. With £10.9m of funding from Research England, this innovative centre is striving to understand the intersection between place-based deprivation and poorer outcomes for health and wellbeing. Successful students work on projects that aim to make a real difference for affected communities, by investigating challenges including but not limited to aging populations, healthcare workforce shortages, housing issues, and transportation challenges. LIRCH work closely with local commuities and there is an expectation that students will spend dedicated time within LIRCH and our surrounding Lincolnshire area to support connectivity and awareness.

The LIRCH fully funded studentship package includes:

• PhD tuition fees paid (home fee rate*).
• Tax-free stipend to cover living costs.
• Research Training Support Grant (RTSG).
• Additional funding available to support skills development, outreach and dissemination, attendance at summer schools, and research events.

Students can also expect to benefit from the opportunity to develop their career, working alongside and in collaboration with experienced and supportive academic colleagues, as well as joining an existing cohort of students working in a similar field.

This is a fantastic opportunity to support the development of a research agenda to understand and improve the health and wellbeing inequalities faced by rural, coastal and remote communities.

Please note, we are unable to provide financial support after the 31^st July 2029 due to the fixed end date of our project. Therefore, our PhD Studentships are not available to international students.

Project Two: Effects of exposome on chronic lung health in ageing population of rural and coastal areas of the UK

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Annual Report 2021 highlights a significant "coastal excess" of disease, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) being one of the most prominent, even after adjusting for age and deprivation. In general, coastal areas face higher rates of respiratory illnesses, leading to lower life expectancy and higher mortality compared to inland areas. Lincolnshire, a coastal area, has an ageing population with a high prevalence of respiratory conditions like Asthma and/or COPD. It is reported that emergency hospital admissions for COPD increased by 9% across England, with particularly high rates in specific regional areas such as rural and coastal areas. This project takes a holistic view, considering the complex interplay of multiple environmental factors that define the rural coastal experience in Lincolnshire. The rural nature of coastal areas means residents rely heavily on solid-fuel heating (wood, coal), agricultural emissions (pesticides, fertilisers, ammonia, dust from harvesting), and private vehicle transport, creating a distinct pollution profile compared to urban areas, where traffic is the dominant source of pollution. In addition, Lincolnshire residents are exposed to various factors related to climate change, coastal aerosols, indoor dampness and mould from older housing stock, and potentially to indoor air pollution.

Aims and Objectives: The main goal is to understand the burden and determinants of chronic lung health in rural and coastal areas of the UK, particularly in Lincolnshire. The student will explore questions such as: (i) how the 'rural exposome' (outdoor agricultural/coastal air pollution, indoor housing quality, green space) influences chronic lung disease prevalence and incidence in Lincolnshire, and (ii) the short-term link between temperature change and daily airborne exposures—particularly PM2.5, PM10, and NOx from rural sources—and acute lung issues (e.g., asthma/COPD exacerbations, ER visits, hospitalizations) in the over-40 population.One goal of the PhD is to provide evidence to inform the design of interventions to reduce the burden of chronic lung diseases in rural and coastal communities.

Methodological approach: The project uses a strong quantitative research approach, with opportunities to develop qualitative skills through community work.There is an opportunity to conduct fieldwork for exposure (indoor air pollution) and outcome assessment. The project will be further developed with an interdisciplinary supervisory team. The PhD student will analyse NHS electronic health records and climate exposure data from DEFRA and local monitoring stations. The student may use a retrospective, time-stratified, case-crossover study design to study the acute effect of environmental exposures on exacerbation of chronic lung diseases.

Training and Skills Development - The successful candidate will develop expertise in advanced statistical methods (regression modelling, spatial analysis, and longitudinal data analysis) for analysing large datasets on patients, climate change, and indoor environments.

Expected Outcomes and Impact: The PhD project aims to uncover the true burden of chronic lung diseases and their causes. It will support bids for intervention studies to reduce health inequalities related to these diseases and climate change in rural and coastal areas. The student will present findings at national and international seminars and engage with communities and policymakers.

For informal inquiries, please contact Prof Om Kurmi (OKurmi@lincoln.ac.uk).

Applications

If you are a dynamic, focused graduate with a relevant first or upper second-class honours degree (e.g. public and population health, nursing, social and behavioural sciences, social policy, environmental and place-based health) a Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience that directly relates to rural or coastal health, then we want to hear from you. The current round of applications closes on 17th May 2026.

Apply now by sending the following documents to the LIRCH team for consideration: cohsstudentships@lincoln.ac.uk : with the subject of: LIRCH PGR Application.

• Your academic CV (no longer than 2 pages) that includes information on your research and teaching and/or professional practice experience and achievements.
• Personal statement (no longer than 1 page) should outline how your qualifications, skills and experience meet the requirements, why you feel you would be well suited to the studentship at LIRCH that you are applying for as well as a brief overview of your approach to conducting this research.
• Contact details for at least two academic references
• Transcript of your first degree
• Transcript of your master's degree and any other previous degrees