Microplastics and chemical additives from food grade baby feeding products: Leachability, toxicity, and the role of feeding behaviour

Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates with the required entry requirements

Duration: Full-Time – between three and three and a half years fixed term

Application deadline: 27 May 2026

Interview date: Will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates

Start date: September 2026

For further details contact: Associate Professor Anna Bogush

Introduction

This PhD project is part of the Cotutelle arrangement between Coventry University, UK and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. The supervision team will be drawn from the two universities.

Microplastics (MPs) and associated chemicals have been detected in many parts of the environment and, increasingly, in human tissues. This raises concerns about human exposure through everyday products. In particular, plastics used in food packaging may release both microplastics and chemical additives, some of which are known or suspected to disrupt hormonal systems or affect development. Infants may be especially vulnerable to these exposures. Baby feeding products, such as plastic bottles and food pouches, are widely used and often subjected to repeated heating, washing, and sterilisation. These processes may increase the release of microplastics and chemical additives. However, this exposure pathway remains poorly understood, and there is limited evidence on potential effects on early brain development. This project addresses this important gap by investigating both the release of these substances and their potential impacts on infant health.

Project details

It is a collaborative Coventry-Deakin Cotutelle PhD project. This interdisciplinary project is organised into three interconnected work packages (WPs), combining advanced chemical analysis, toxicological assessment, and behavioural research. WP1: Behavioural study to understand various consumer behaviour patterns related to the washing, warm up and sterilisation of baby bottles. (year 1 at Deakin University, Australia) WP 2: Comparative analysis of leachability of MPs and chemical additives from plastic baby bottles and plastic food pouches. (year 2 at Coventry University, UK) WP3: Investigating the toxicity of MPs and chemical additives on neuronal development in zebrafish embryos and human neuronal cell lines (e.g. SY5Y). (year 3 at Deakin University, Australia)

Funding

Tuition fees and stipend

Benefits

The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training including technical, personal and professional skills. All researchers at Coventry University (from PhD to Professor) are part of the Doctoral and Researcher College which provides support with high-quality training and career development activities.

This is an exciting opportunity to study a PhD as part of a cotutelle arrangement between Coventry University, UK and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. The PhD Student will graduate with two PhDs, one from Deakin University and one from Coventry University, each of which recognises that the program was carried out as part of a jointly supervised doctoral program.

Candidate specification

Applicants must meet the admission and scholarship criteria for both Coventry University and Deakin University for entry to the cotutelle programme.

Applicants should have graduated within the top 15% of their undergraduate cohort. This might include a high 2:1 in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 70% mark (80% for Australian graduates) in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 70% overall module average (80% for Australian graduates).
A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field requiring at least four years of full-time study, and which normally includes a research component which is equivalent to at least 25% of a year’s full-time study in the fourth year, with achievement of a grade for the project equivalent to a H1 standard or 80%.

a Masters degree, with a significant research component, in a relevant subject area, with overall mark at minimum Distinction.
In addition, the mark for the Masters thesis (or equivalent) must be a minimum of 80%.
Please note that where a candidate has 70-79% and can provide evidence of research experience to meet equivalency to the minimum first-class honours equivalent (80%+) additional evidence can be submitted and may include independently peer-reviewed publications, research-related awards or prizes and/or professional reports.
Language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component).

The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a prescribed period of study.

Additional Requirments

Requirements for PhD applicants: MSc/BSc in chemistry/ Life and Environmental Sciences/Toxicology/Environmental chemistry • Experience in laboratory work and instrumental analysis (e.g., FTIR, Raman, LC-MS, GC-MS) • Strong interest in interdisciplinary research • Knowledge of statistics and data analysis • Ability to work independently and in a team • Effective time management and organisation skills

How to apply

To find out more about the project, please contact Associate Professor Anna Bogush

All applications require full supporting documentation, a covering letter, plus a 2000-word supporting statement showing how the applicant’s expertise and interests are relevant to the project.

Apply to Coventry University