PhD Studentship available - University of Leeds

What? Improving air quality: developing and evaluating effective interventions to promote positive policy change

How long? 3-year funded PhD Studentship

Where? School of Psychology, The University of Leeds

Supervisors: Supervisors: Dr Ian Kellar (School of Psychology, University of Leeds), Dr Rosie McEachan (Bradford Institute for Health Research), Dr Sara Ahern (Public Health, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council), Professor Greg Marsden (Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds)

Sponsors: School of Psychology, University of Leeds and the Bradford Institute for Health Research
Email for more information: i.kellar@leeds.ac.uk rosie.mceachan@bthft.nhs.uk 

Background
Looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual with a passion for applied research and experience of behaviour change and / or implementation science and / or policy change. The successful applicant will join a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in behaviour change, policy change, public health, and sustainable transport and will work on a project which will have the opportunity to make a real difference to the health and well-being of people living within West Yorkshire and beyond.

Public Health England have identified air quality as a key public health priority. Contributing to around 7,500 deaths a year nationally ^[1], traffic related pollution accounts for the largest proportion of air pollution experienced in England ^[2]. Air quality in West Yorkshire is some of the worst in the country and is estimated to account for 5-6% mortality in the region ^[3].
Despite increasing pressure to bring air pollution levels in line with EU Limit Values, West Yorkshire is not expected to reach the health based objectives for air quality until 2030 or beyond. Nationally, Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) is not considered to be working well ^[4] and a number of barriers to the effective implementation of air quality action plans have been identified ^[5] which may be impeding local authorities’ progress with air quality, particularly the reduction of traffic emissions. Understanding what drives and hinders the implementation of policies is crucial to developing interventions to help policy makers make change more effective, which is turn will help to improve air quality locally, regionally, and nationally.