Trends and Mitigations in Behaviour-Based Domestic Stove Emissions

About the Project

Domestic burning remains a significant contributor to air pollution and have been identified as an area for intervention in the latest Government Environmental Improvement Plan (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-improvement-plan-2025/environmental-improvement-plan-eip-2025).

Recent strategies have encouraged the use of modern stoves and ‘Ready to Burn’ fuels, but a recent emissions study (https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/library/reports?report_id=1167) noted concerning trends, such as that PAH emissions from the most modern Ecodesign and ‘Blue Angel’ stoves can increase if used with the dry woods. Separate research at The University of Manchester and The National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) showed the fundamental cause of high emissions was identified as dry fuels burning ‘rich’, but the project only used one Ecodesign stove rather than the wide variety of stoves that are used in the UK.

The University of Manchester has a wide variety of additional stoves which this PhD project will capitalise on. Emissions trends have been shown to be influenced by not just fuels but user behaviour, which this project will systematically explore, along with fuel types not tested previously. Possible avenues of enquiry include:

1. How sensitive are the emission factors of the different stoves to user behaviour, and what are the underlying mechanisms?
2. What are the emissions profiles of solid waste (e.g. construction timber, garden waste)?
3. How much of an improvement to air quality could be achieved by improving user behaviour?

The experiments will be conducted at the Manchester Sustainable Energy Processes Lab, using a dilution tunnel system and relevant measurements such as particulate mass (‘soot’) and gaseous pollutants. These can potentially be supplemented using AMOF instrument requests via NCAS.

The student will use this data along with DEFRA commissioned surveys, together with laboratory data and activity maps to perform scenario-based assessments using the WRF-CMAQ air quality model of how emissions, air quality and geographically-resolved population exposure could be improved through modifications to user behaviour. This will be used to inform future government interventions such as public information campaigns or legislation, by predicting their potential effectiveness.

The student will have full access to the training offered within the University of Manchester, including the skills needed to carry out the research in an effective, safe and compliant manner. The University also offers courses in project management, paper preparation and thesis writing, along with career support. The student will also have access to lecture material taught in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and specific training for engaging with government is provided by the Policy@Manchester unit. The student will have access to the postgraduate-oriented training offered by NCAS. By including supervisors from multiple departments and activities in both measurement and modelling, this enhances the cross-disciplinary nature of the work and increases the opportunities for engaging with and networking within multiple disciplines, and with industry.

This will be co-supervised by:

Amanda Lea-Langton, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Bioenergy Engineering, School of Engineering. https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/amanda.lea-langton

James Allan, Professor of Air Pollution Measurement, Earth and Environmental Sciences. https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/james.allan/

Zhonghua Zheng, Lecturer (Assistant Professor ) in Data Science and Environmental Analytics

Additional support and advice will be provided by Industry experts. https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/zhonghua.zheng

Eligibility

Applicants should have or expect to achieve at least a 2.1 honours degree in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science , or a related discipline

This is open to UK students only.

Funding

This 3 year PhD project is fully funded by NCAS/ DEFRA for home students only. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year.

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor for this project before you apply. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

How to apply

Apply online through our website: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your supervisor, if you already having funding or if you wish to be considered for available funding through the university, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees.

Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

After you have applied you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents:

• Final Transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications
• Interim Transcript of any university level qualifications in progress
• CV
• Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research and why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed. (This is mandatory for all applicants and the application will be put on hold without it).
• Contact details for two referees (please make sure that the contact email you provide is an official university/work email address as we may need to verify the reference)
• English Language certificate (if applicable)

If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing FSE.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk.