This funded PhD studentship is part of the Strathclyde Centre for Doctoral Training (SCDT) in Energy-efficient Indoor Climate Control for Optimised Health (EICCOH), an interdisciplinary research programme that trains future leaders at the interface of architecture, data science, psychology and health, to develop evidence-based solutions for healthy buildings. 

This PhD will explore the feasibility of securely linking housing, environmental, and health data to inform prevention-focused public services. Poor indoor environmental conditions, such as pollutant exposure, inadequate ventilation, and damp, are key risk factors for respiratory illness, particularly among young children. As new national datasets on housing and ventilation provision become available, there is growing potential to connect these with healthcare records to better understand and prevent housing-related ill health.

Working collaboratively across housing, health, and data science, the PhD will investigate how such datasets could be integrated within existing digital and policy frameworks. It will explore potential data linkage methods, governance models, and referral mechanisms to support early identification of high-risk households, while reducing duplication and administrative burden. A key focus will be on understanding how data-sharing infrastructures, such as linkage via Community Health Index (CHI) numbers, could underpin secure, ethical information exchange across sectors.

The research will also examine alignment with current policy developments, including Awaab’s Law, the Healthy Homes Standard, and the Housing (Scotland) Bill, assessing how integrated data systems could strengthen accountability and coordination between housing and healthcare services. By combining stakeholder engagement, system mapping, and data analysis, this PhD will assess the feasibility and impact potential of developing an automated, cross-sector data ecosystem that supports prevention, informs funding priorities, and helps quantify the health and economic benefits of housing improvements.

Why Join This Programme?

The SCDT provides a research and training environment offering interdisciplinary expertise in indoor air quality, human behaviour, data analytics, and machine learning. The programme is designed to train future innovators and leaders capable of driving the transition to a sustainable, healthy, and energy-efficient built environment.

Key features of this studentship include:

• co-supervision by experts across Computer & Information Sciences, Architecture and Psychology
  opportunities to engage with stakeholders, including clinicians, industry specialists, and the public, through placements, training, and networking, to ensure the research addresses real-world challenges

Professional development

Successful candidates will benefit from:

• training in scientific writing and publication
• support in applying for external funding opportunities, such as travel grants
• enrolment in the PGCert in Researcher Development, a 60-credit qualification designed to enhance skills in governance, engagement, intellectual abilities, and personal effectiveness

Candidate expectations

We are seeking highly motivated individuals who are eager to take ownership of their projects and contribute creatively to shaping their research. Candidates should have a strong interest in interdisciplinary approaches and a passion for addressing the challenges of prevention-focused public services and housing quality. 

Benefits

As part of the SCDT, students will join a vibrant and inclusive postgraduate research cohort, benefiting from peer-to-peer learning and a collaborative research culture. This scholarship offers a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of innovation, bridging academic research with industry needs to deliver impactful solutions for the built environment.