Overview
Children are vulnerable to poor air quality as pollutant exposure during developmental stages may produce lifelong issues, some of which may become apparent only later in life. The Covid -19 pandemic has brought about an increased focus on air quality in schools. In addition, extreme weather events such as heat waves, thunderstorms and bushfires, as well as planned burning prior to the fire season, are becoming more common due to climate change, resulting in phenomena such as increased smoke haze that affect IAQ in classrooms. There is limited knowledge about the effects of such events on IAQ.
This project will investigate indoor air quality of schools and will explore various interventions such as air filtration technologies for improving indoor air quality. It will focus on schools located in a range of environments such as those impacted by traffic pollution, residential wood burning and bushfire smoke.
Children are vulnerable to poor air quality as pollutant exposure during developmental stages may produce lifelong issues, some of which may become apparent only later in life. The Covid -19 pandemic has brought about an increased focus on air quality in schools. In addition, extreme weather events such as heat waves, thunderstorms and bushfires, as well as planned burning prior to the fire season, are becoming more common due to climate change, resulting in phenomena such as increased smoke haze that affect IAQ in classrooms. There is limited knowledge about the effects of such events on IAQ.
This project will investigate indoor air quality of schools and will explore various interventions such as air filtration technologies for improving indoor air quality. It will focus on schools located in a range of environments such as those impacted by traffic pollution, residential wood burning and bushfire smoke.
Value and duration
The value of the Scholarship is equivalent to an RMIT full Scholarship.
This Scholarship will be available for 3 years.
Closing date
Position will remain open until filled.
Number of scholarships
One available.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Satisfy RMIT University’s Doctor of Philosophy entry requirements
- Have first-class Honours or equivalent in a relevant discipline
- International applicants must also meet the minimum English language requirements
Candidates with excellent written and communication skills, demonstrated capacity to work independently and as a part of a team, experience in research, and a track record of published (or at least submitted) research articles.
How to apply
Please submit the following documents to [email protected]
- Cover letter outlining interest and alignment with the proposed research, and addressing the eligibility criteria
- Copy of academic transcripts
- CV (including the names of two referees)
- Copy of Honours/Masters thesis or a first authored published peer reviewed journal paper.
Further information
This PhD scholarship is part of the Healthy Environment and Lives (HEAL) project which is an NHMRC Special Initiative in Human Health and Environmental Change. HEAL network brings together a highly interdisciplinary national network of researchers and research end-users who will assess the complex interactions between environmental change, climate and human health. The network will co-design and evaluate innovative adaptation and mitigation solutions across populations and sectors of the Australian economy.
HEAL aims to build research capacity and capability in all jurisdictions, based on highly innovative data analyses, and on human health, environmental and social science methods. Importantly, it will integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander science, cultural knowledge and wisdom across the Network’s research, research translation and communication activities.
Scholarship contact
Professor Priya Rajagopalan
Email: [email protected]
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