Optimising passive sampling of contaminants to assess environmental risk

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the Red-ALERT CDT, hosted by Cardiff University for entry in September 2026.

Passive samplers have emerged as an innovative and increasingly valuable tool in environmental monitoring, offering a practical alternative to traditional methods that rely on sampling water, sediments, or aquatic organisms. These devices passively accumulate contaminants over time, providing a time-integrated measure of pollutant concentrations. This approach is particularly advantageous for assessing hydrophobic and less water-soluble contaminants—such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and certain pesticides that are otherwise difficult to quantify in water samples due to their low solubility and high variability.

Passive samplers can also reduce the need for destructive biological sampling and provide insights into contaminant bioavailability rather than total concentrations.

Despite these advantages, the widespread adoption of passive sampling has been limited. Two major challenges underpin this issue: first, uncertainties remain regarding how data from passive samplers relate to actual environmental and ecological risks; and second, there is a lack of standardised protocols for deployment, including the duration of exposure, installation sites, membrane materials, and the design of sampler casings. Addressing these gaps is critical for integrating passive samplers into regulatory monitoring and ecological risk assessment frameworks.

This project aims to systematically evaluate and optimise the deployment of passive samplers under varying environmental conditions. By comparing contaminant data obtained from passive samplers with bioaccumulation data from aquatic organisms such as invertebrates and fish, the study will explore how well passive sampling reflects real-world exposure.

The outcomes will help establish reliable, cost-effective methods for environmental monitoring and enhance our understanding of contaminant exposure pathways in aquatic ecosystems.

The PhD student will train in environmental chemistry (e.g., contaminant analysis using GC-MS/LC-MS), field sampling and passive sampler deployment, ecotoxicology, and hydrodynamic modelling. They will develop skills in Python/R programming, statistical analysis, research design, and scientific communication to integrate chemical, ecological, and computational approaches for environmental monitoring.

This project is highly interdisciplinary, integrating environmental chemistry, ecology, and toxicology with hydrodynamic modelling and computer science. It combines field sampling, laboratory analysis, and computational modelling to optimise passive sampler deployment, simulate contaminant transport, and develop data-driven tools that link chemical measurements with biological exposure and ecological risk.

Ecology, integrative samplers, bioaccumulation, pollution

Natural Resources Wales

Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or good Upper Second-Class UK Honours degree (or the equivalent) in a relevant subject - e.g. geography, ecology, environmental sciences,mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, etc. Academic qualifications are considered alongside significant relevant non-academic experience.

We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups.

If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.