Unit information: Aerosol Science: Thematic Broadening Sabbatical in 2020/21

Unit name	Aerosol Science: Thematic Broadening Sabbatical
Unit code	CHEMM0019
Credit points	60
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Professor. Reid
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	Core Aerosol Science I and II
School/department	School of Chemistry
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

Aerosols are particles dispersed in a gas phase with sizes ranging from molecular clusters (>1 nm) to large droplets (>100 um). Aerosol science is core to a broad range of disciplines extending from drug delivery to the lungs, to disease transmission, aerosol routes to the manufacture of new materials, combustion, environmental science, and the delivery of consumer and agricultural products.

Each student will be supported by a mentoring team of two academics and one industrial partner; the lead academic and the academic co-supervisor will work in complementary areas of aerosol science. The mentoring team will define the Research and Mentoring Plan before studentships are advertised, defining clearly the PhD project, the Thematic Broadening Sabbatical and the placement in industry (in Year 2 or 3) from the outset.

This unit will provide training in an area of aerosol science complementary to the final PhD project undertaken by the student. This 3 month project, the Thematic Broadening Sabbatical, will be hosted by the academic co-supervisor who may be based either at the same institution hosting the final PhD or any one of the other partnering academic institutions. The student will prepare a final written report on the outcomes of their project.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Apply theoretical knowledge of aerosol science across a range of research problems of a chemical, physical, biological or technological nature.
• Undertake independent design and conduct experiments/models in aerosol science with technical mastery, as well as analyse and interpret data.
• Identify, formulate, critique and solve research problems within their specialised context to advance the understanding of aerosols.
• Develop or adapt advanced methodological approaches to contemporary problems in aerosol science, recognising the complexity and tolerating the ambiguity that arises in real-world systems.

Teaching Information

Breakdown of contributing activity:
Research work – 3 months, 450 hours

Assessment Information

For MRes Exit Award:
The student will submit a written dissertation (15,000 words equivalent maximum). The written dissertation (60 % of assessment) will be assessed by the mentoring team and a representative of the CDT. One member of the mentoring team and a representative of the CDT will also assess the student’s performance during a 30 minute interview (40 %).

Reading and References

Text-books covering most aspects of the course:
Aerosol Science: Technology and Applications by Colbeck and Lazaridis, Wiley-Blackwell, 1st edition (2014).

Aerosol Technology: Properties, Behavior, and Measurement of Airborne Particles by Hinds, Wiley-Blackwell, 2nd edition (1999).

Specialist text-books for thematic areas:
Aerosol Measurement: Principles, Techniques, and Applications by Kulkarni, Baron and Willeke, Wiley-Blackwell, 3rd edition (2011).

The Mechanics of Inhaled Pharmaceutical Aerosols: An Introduction by Finlay, Academic Press, 2nd edition (2019).

Analytical Chemistry of Aerosols: Science and Technology by Spurny, CRC Press (2000).

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air Pollution to Climate Change by Seinfeld and Pandis, Wiley-Blackwell, 3rd edition (2016).