The food system feeds societies, employs billions of people, and underpins international aspirations such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, it is responsible for one-third of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, threatens more species than any other activity, uses over half of all nitrogen and phosphorus, and over 70% of all freshwater. Balancing these benefits and pressures is essential for human wellbeing and the liveability of both specific places and the planet. These environmental pressures come disproportionately from the production of animal products (e.g. 57% of food system emissions come from livestock production, Xu et al 2021), largely due to their low environmental efficiency compared with plant-based foods (Poore & Nemecek 2018). Reducing consumption of animal products in wealthy countries and avoiding shifts to high-meat diets as economies develop is therefore essential to maintain a liveable environment. However, attempts to reduce consumption may be resisted due to the social and cultural importance of animal products and production systems, strong relationships between wealth and consumption, suggesting aspirational consumption (Tilman et al 2011), and political aversion to any perceived limiting of consumer choice. In this context, alternative proteins (APs) offer a potential solution. APs include plant-based, cultivated and fermentation-made meat, eggs, dairy, and seafood, which have significantly lower environmental impacts than animal-based counterparts. They may also offer health benefits at the individual level (e.g. higher fibre, lower calorie density) and societal level (e.g. reducing risks from zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance). Importantly, they may enable consumers to substitute lower-impact products into diets while continuing to access familiar tastes and dishes. However, the growth of APs has not been universally welcomed, being described as a technological solution that fails to address the complex social, economic and cultural factors associated with food production and consumption. In addition, the social, cultural, economic, and ecological transformations that could result from a widescale shift to APs are understudied. Instead, most research has focused on technical product development or life cycle assessments of specific products. Given the speed and scale of AP development there is an urgent need to address this knowledge gap. This interdisciplinary project has been co-designed with the European team of the Good Food Institute-the world's leading AP-focused international third-sector organisation-to answer the overarching question: "How will alternative proteins affect people and the environment in the UK and Europe over coming decades?". To do so, the student will tackle three linked questions: (1) How are different APs likely to be accepted in different European contexts? (2) How could European demand for different proteins change up to 2050? (3) What would the social, economic, and environmental impacts of meeting this demand be? This interdisciplinary project will make empirical and theoretical contributions to a range of disciplines, including economics, land economy, and environmental social sciences. For example, providing insight into the substitutability of different protein sources across cultures; the liveability implications of different ways of meeting future food demand; and how shifts to APs could affect people's relationships with their environments.

Nanopore technology is being successfully deployed for the sequencing of nucleic acids however it is still challenging to analyse heterogenous biomolecular samples. The analysis of datasets generated from nanopore sensors relies on a signal processing chain that employs advanced algorithms to classify translocation events to specific analytes passing through the nanopore. Often, the signatures of complex analyte mixtures are too convoluted to be analysed with high precision with current data analysis protocols. This project will develop of a fit-for-purpose data analytics approach to enable high-precision real-time analysis of highly convoluted nanopore datasets. While some features can readily be quantified using analytical tools (such as peak amplitude and dwell time), others (such as shape) are more challenging and will be better suited for analysis with machine learning approaches. The project will implement machine learning approaches for the clustering and classification of single molecule biosensing datasets generated using nanopores and functional DNA origami to support the development of the next generation of medical diagnostic devices. The project will also involve the development of multimodal characterization of catalytic nanoparticle systems where nanopore sensing will be complemented with electrochemical characterization at the single entity level. The project will implement sensor fusion algorithms to generate improved signal classification that will allow the development and characterization of new materials for a low-carbon future.

VEXAS syndrome is a severe, systemic autoinflammatory condition, with symptoms such as bone marrow failure, fevers and thrombosis. VEXAS is caused by somatic mutations in UBA1, which encodes a crucial E1 ubiquitin enzyme. The mutations are myeloid-restricted, and UBA1 resides on the X-chromosome, so the condition predominantly affects older males. The canonical VEXAS-causing mutations all affect a single amino acid residue in exon 3, Methionine-41 which lead to loss of cytoplasmic UBA1b, and production of an alternative, catalytically inactive, isoform called UBA1c. VEXAS syndrome is hard to treat, with no targeted therapies as yet. Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant has been shown to be curative, however due to significant co-morbidities and late age of presentations seen in VEXAS, most patients can not be considered for this option. Therefore, more research needs to go into understanding this condition, the mutations and their impact on cellular functions, to try and identify new therapeutic targets. Our research objectives: 1. Establish robust cell culture systems to study evolution of pathogenic UBA1 mutations and their effect on cellular differentiation, molecular programme, and disease progression. 2. Determine the functional effects of newly discovered rare variants in UBA1 to select future treatment targets. 3. Detailed phenotyping of primary patient cells including platelets.

The aim of this project is to better understand the interactions occurring on the sole of the foot which may lead to the formation of ulceration in diabetic feet. To investigate this, the project will focus on the development of a tribological test rig which can allow for interchangeable contacting surfaces to be analysed, such as insole or shoe footbed materials, alongside analysis of the contact with cadaveric skin and the tissue beneath it. Most analysis of ulceration focuses solely on the skin interaction or biological causes, so analysis of the underlying tissue, which is not in direct contact, will be used to offer a fresh perspective on ulcerative breakdown. The interchangeable surfaces of the test rig will also be used to test for possible human skin equivalents, which show similar properties during breakdown, to enable reduction in the reliance on cadaveric skin for laboratory tests. Reducing the need for cadaveric skin, means increased trials can take place, which can be used to focus on research for improving diabetic ulceration treatment options and understanding. To inform the design of the test rig, digital image correlation (DIC) will be used as a method of characterising general population strain rates on the sole of the foot. Strain of skin is usually determined from excised skin and not in-situ. DIC works by applying a speckle pattern to an object and photographically monitoring the changes in the pattern throughout a set movement. Large scale population analysis of the sole of the foot using DIC for strain mapping during walking is a novel area for study and will help inform how strain varies at different contact locations on the foot to allow inputs in the rig design to reflect this strain when testing skin interactions. Combining this research, the project hopes to achieve a greater understanding of the role of shear in ulceration formation, as most current treatment pathways are developed on the reduction of pressure alone. Other work occurring in the University of Leeds is currently focussing on development of shear insole sensors and this project will directly feed into that development. It is hoped that through this research and improved understanding of the pathways causing diabetic ulceration to the soles of the feet, that future treatment pathways may be able to be developed with this in mind and feed into risk assessment of the diabetic foot to reduce incidence of ulceration.

Currently there is little understanding of how microorganisms in water systems are dispersed into the environment and the potential risks associated with this. The proposed project aims to model the release of microorganisms from showers to quantify occupant exposure. This will involve particle and bioaerosol measurements from an experimental shower system at PHE and development of a CFD model to simulate the dispersion of water droplets and microorganisms from the shower head. Combing the data of these two elements will enable the modelling of the evaporation and transport of droplets in a bathroom environment. In this way the influence of parameters such as temperature, humidity and ventilation on the fate of microorganisms within the droplets.