
Harriet Sleight, Dept. of Environment and Geography, York
The rivers and lakes in Yorkshire are contaminated with mixtures of chemical and microbial contaminants. Monitoring of these contaminants requires advanced analytical methods and remains prohibitively expensive. This project focuses on the development and validation of novel analytical techniques, working alongside an ongoing research council-funded project at the University of York. This toolkit will ultimately be used in situ by citizen scientists to generate large datasets. It will advance the boundaries of citizen science by including analysis of pharmaceuticals and personal care products, perfluoroalkyl substances and E. coli. This project includes working with an industrial partner, Bioventix on the validation of novel chemical sensors using lateral flow devices and a minimised-by-design sample collection kit for quantification of E. coli and organic chemicals in water. As a student on this project, you will be instrumental in trialling the analytical toolkit and developing quality control measures ensuring data integrity. You will also help to develop clear standard operating procedures for non-specialist audiences, utilising a range of communication methods. Students will need to find their own accommodation and be expected to present their findings orally at a research day in York in September 2025.