Understanding the fates of common indoor air pollutants following inhalation

In developed countries, people spend around 80-90% of their time in indoor environments, therefore, the majority of exposure to inhaled pollutants occurs indoors. Of particular interest are gas-phase volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a group of pollutants produced from a wide range of indoor products and activities. There is increasing evidence that some of these VOCs can worsen asthma symptoms, but the links between specific VOCs and specific health effects are not well known. The student will work as part of an interdisciplinary team (Depts. Of Environment and Geography, Chemistry, and Biology) who are developing a computational model to understand pollutant concentrations in rooms in relation to asthma. This model requires experimental data which describes how VOCs behave chemically in the lung, and the biological effects of exposure. The student will be gathering the chemical kinetics data and cell exposure data for a previously unstudied VOC, to be incorporated into the model. The project will provide both laboratory and computational modelling experience, and the data generated has the potential to be used in future publications and model releases. Students will need to find their own accommodation and be expected to present their findings orally at a research day in York on 08th September 2026.