PhD Program

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Environmental Pollution Studies

Duration of Programme

Full-time Ph.D – 36 months (minimum) to 48 months (maximum)

Part-time Ph.D – 48 months (minimum) to 60 months (maximum)

Graduation requirements

Students would meet the following requirements to qualify for the award of the Ph.D in Environmental Pollution Studies:

The students must have successfully completed all the prescribed courses in the programme
The students must have completed and scored a pass in his/her thesis, and the students must meet the other requirements set by the School of Graduate Studies and the Centre for Marine Pollution Monitoring and Seafood Safety

LIST OF COURSES IN THE PROGRAMME

COURSE OUTLINE

EPS 901 Advanced Statistics and Data Science 2 Credits

The focus of the course is on the application of statistical and epidemiological approaches in public health research, which covers the selection of appropriate methods. The course covers the use of survival analysis, meta-analysis, Bayesian statistics or general analysis of the paired data to analyze the main features of the processes under investigation. In this course, several regression models will be described and applied. The course will start with a repetition of linear and logistic regression models. Subsequently, several other regression models will be introduced and discussed, including Poisson-, Cox -and multilevel-regression. Basic concepts in survival analysis will be described and discussed. The multilevel modelling course will cover both the linear and the logistic case. The Poisson regression course will focus on the analysis of aggregated and count data that are common in publicly available public health data, including the use of offset terms. As machine learning is a huge subject, this course will focus on “supervised learning” methods used in classification problems such as the prediction of patient risk. Furthermore, various epidemiological methods are introduced to analyze causality as well as aspects of data management and sampling. Public health research articles will be used for group discussion, where students focus on the application of the statistical and epidemiological methods. The theoretical part will be illustrated using public health examples and students will practice the application of different analytical approaches in computer exercises and practical exercises.

Module Content

Big Data in Health: Will discuss issues relating to access, confidentiality, privacy and data stewardship; Methodological challenges related to data linkage will be discussed; working with large health databases including health administrative data, electronic medical record data and various other databases. Biostatistics 1 with SAS or R:- introduction to important topics in biostatistical concepts and reasoning. Specific topics include tools for describing central tendency and variability in data, probability distributions, sampling distributions, estimation, and hypothesis testing. Assignments will involve computation using the SAS programming language; Categorical and censored data analysis:- Overview of methods of analysis for binary and other discrete response data, with applications to epidemiological and clinical studies.; 2×2 tables, m×2 tables, tests of independence, measures of association, power and sample size determination, stratification and matching in design and analysis, interrater agreement, and logistic regression analysis; basic concepts for censored data and Kaplan-Meier; selection of appreciate methods and how to interpret the results from categorical data analysis and Kaplan-Meier. Advanced Statistical Modelling: An introduction to the fundamental statistical methods used in health data science including interpretation and communicating the results of these methods, modelling using an epidemiological paradigm such as the assessment for modification and confounding. fundamental health research methods including study design and the evidence hierarchy; Data Science (R, SAS and Python): introduction to data science using both the R and python or SAS programming languages; reproducible research, exploratory data analysis, data manipulation, data visualization techniques, simulation design, and unsupervised learning methods. Hierarchical modeling and longitudinal data analysis:-Use of mixed-effect models, mixed-effect ANOVA, generalized linear mixed models (GLMM), mixed-effect Cox-regression, Bayesian hierarchical models, repeated measure and longitudinal data analysis with appropriate covariance structures; Study Design:- description, application and measurement of disease incidence and prevalence, and measures of effect; explanation of the basic principles underlying different study designs, including descriptive, ecological, cross-sectional, cohort, case-control and intervention studies; assess strengths and limitations of different study designs; identify problems interpreting epidemiological data: chance, bias, confounding and effect modification; address validity, intra-rater reliability and inter-rater reliability; Biostatistics II: Regression Analysis:- statistical methods for analyzing censored data, non-normally distributed response data, and repeated measurements data that are commonly encountered in medical and public health research; linear regression, logistic regression, cox proportional hazards regression and generalized estimating equations. Examples from the health sciences; coding of explanatory variables, residual diagnostics, model selection techniques, random effects and mixed models, and maximum likelihood estimation.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Assess the fit of simple models and choose between alternative models
Identify instances of overfitting, choose and apply appropriate methods for dealing with this problem, and discuss the results obtained
Identify when methods for clustered data are appropriate, choose and fit appropriate models, and interpret the results
Identify when problems of multiple testing arise, choose and apply suitable solutions
Discuss problems caused by missing values, discuss the choice of methods for analysing incomplete data sets, apply these methods and interpret the results
Choose and apply suitable methods for dimension reduction and clustering, and discuss the results obtained
Choose and apply suitable multi-state models, and interpret the results.

EPS 902 Advanced Oceanography 3 Credits

Oceanography is the study of the geological, physical, chemical, and biological features of the ocean, including the ocean’s ancient history, its current condition, and its future. This course provides an in-depth study of the important processes in the oceans, shelf seas and estuaries. The course combines detailed study of life in the sea, from the smallest bacteria to the largest mammals, with a specialized understanding of their physical and chemical environments: the currents, tides and waves, and the biogeochemical interactions within the atmosphere, ocean and seafloor.

COURSE CONTENT

Introduction; Geological Oceanography: - Formation of the atmosphere and the ocean basins: Continental drift; plate tectonics; seafloor spreading; age of ocean floor; Major Plate boundaries; hotspots; Marine provinces; bathymetry; Marine sediments. Chemical Oceanography: Properties of water and seawater; salinity; acids, bases & buffers; thermocline & pycnocline; desalination of seawater; Major ions of seawater; Mass balance - the cornerstone of chemical oceanography; What controls the composition of river water and seawater: Equilibrium versus kinetic ocean: - • Gas exchange •The redox sequence and sediment diagenesis •Ocean carbonate system; • Radiocarbon and ocean age. Physical Oceanography: -

• Surface currents; gyres; Ekman transport; geostrophic currents; upwelling & downwelling; circulation patterns; • ENSO effects; thermohaline circulation. • Power from ocean Currents ̶ oceanic influences on climate; currents; waves and tides. • Waves & wave characteristics; wave development; wave interference; refraction & reflection. • Tsunami basics; historical tsunami; tsunami warning system; wave power. • Gravitational attractions; tidal patterns; whirlpools; tidal power. • Beaches; sand movement; longshore drift & barrier islands; stabilization of shorelines. • Principles and components of the dynamic ocean system. Biological oceanography: - • Marine Ecosystems; • Phytoplankton; • Zooplankton; • Marine Invertebrates; • Marine Mammal; •Fisheries; • Primary productivity patterns. Ocean resources: - Coastal Ocean laws & EEZ; estuaries; lagoons; coastal wetlands; Marine pollution; historical oil spills; human impacts on the ocean.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

Categorize the geologic features found on the seafloor and summarize their significance as natural resources; Understand how uneven heating of the earth surface drives atmospheric and oceanic circulation; Understand the relationship between atmospheric wind patterns and gyre circulation.
Develop an appreciation for the interdisciplinary nature of oceanography, and for some of the “cutting edge" research currently underway in the field.
Link the chemical and physical properties of water molecules to properties of sea water, such as density, temperature, heat capacity, salinity, and gas saturation.
Use bathymetric maps to interpret ocean landforms in the context of plate tectonics and sea-level change; Create bathymetric maps and cross-sections; Predict Ocean currents (both surface and vertical) based on global atmospheric circulation patterns, the Coriolis Effect, surface friction, and water density.
Link water depth, wind speed, duration, wave height and energy and predict how these factors affect the coastline and the distribution of ocean sediments; Interpret tidal patterns based on both the equilibrium and dynamic tidal theories; Compare and contrast the fundamental methods used by scientists to explore the ocean; Evaluate the impact ocean exploration has on society and marine life.
Analyze several case studies to assess the types of relationships that exist between society and the ocean; Illustrate habits that lead to a more sustainable relationship between society and the ocean; Present lab results and interpretations in a technical report.

EPS 903 Marine Oil Spill, Monitoring and Clean up Methods 3 Credits

In an increasingly technological era, man has become more dependent upon oil-based products to help us maintain our high standard of living. Products derived from petroleum, such as heating oil and gasoline; provide fuel for our automobiles, heat for our homes, and energy for the machinery used in our industries. Other products derived from petroleum, including plastics and pharmaceuticals, provide us with convenience and help to make our lives more comfortable. Because we use vast quantities of oils, they are usually stored and transported in large volumes. During storage or transport, and occasionally as the result of oil exploration activities, oils are sometimes spilled into waterways. When this occurs, human health and environmental quality are put at risk. Every effort must be made to prevent oil spills and to clean them up promptly once they occur.

This course contains topics that outline and explain various causes of Marine oil spills, their potential effects on the environment, how they are cleaned up, and how various agencies and companies prevent and respond to oil spills. Details of some oil spills are provided to show different types of spills and the complexities and issues involved in responding to them. The challenges of oil spill cleanup and the way forward are also fully discussed.

The course comprises tasking but interesting class exercises, group discussion and interactive sections, with daily quiz and end of course examination.

MODULE CONTENT:

Introduction; Causes of Maritime oil Spill: Natural Sources; Offshore drilling operations, Oil Spill Caused by Acts of War; Oil Spill During Maritime Transportation (Water Transportation using Oil Vessels; Oil Transportation Using Pipeline; Dry-docking; Marine terminals; Oil Bunkering); The Operation of Artisanal refinery; Impacts Of Marine Oil Spill:- Damage to coastal vegetation, Reduction in healthy Mangrove, Surface water Pollution, Sediment contamination, Impact on birds and marine mammals, Impact on fish, Destruction of food resources and habitats, Recreational areas, Disruption of fishing activities, Effects of spill on aquatic habitats; Control Measures:- Oil Spill Response (Case Study: Niger Delta); Sampling and monitoring of Marine Oil Spill; Contingency planning for marine oil Spill; Methods for Marine Oil Spill Cleanup: Natural dispersion of oil, Mechanical, Chemical, Biological, Enhanced Photo-oxidation, E.t.c; Disposal of Oil and Debris; Treatment of Contaminated Sediments; Remediation approaches for Mangrove and other Vegetation; Challenges of Oil Cleanup, Recommendations

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this module student should be able to:

Explain the various causes of maritime oil spill,
Discuss the impacts oil spill in the aquatic ecosystem,
Identify the control measures,
Understand the various cleanup methods.
Explain the disposal methods of the Oil and Debris
Know the treatment of Contaminated Sediment
Have a good knowledge of the remediation approaches for mangrove and other Vegetation
Take precautions to protect the Marine environment during oil and gas operations, transportation, etc.,
Address most environmental issues bordering on Marine oil spill,
Assist regulatory authorities to monitor and manage Marine oil spill, corporate participants will become more conscious than ever to carry out their operations in compliance with prevailing laws in the jurisdiction where the operation is performed.

PUT 904 ICT, Writing Skills & Research Methods 2 Credits

This course will cover the essentials of ICT especially the use of Microsoft Word, Spreadsheet, Power point, Access and Project. It will also examine common statistical packages used in health research.

MODULE CONTENT:

essential computer applications and Internet technology skills for personal, academic, and professional success; use of current Windows operating system and appropriate file management resources; application of word processing and desktop publishing functions to create, edit, manipulate, format, cite resources, print, and store common personal and academic documents; apply spreadsheet functions to solve mathematical, and statistical problems; create and edit charts and graphs to interpret spreadsheet data; design and create databases to extract, sort, calculate, and report presentation; design, create, and PowerPoint presentation which includes appropriate text formatting, graphics, animation, and public speaking skills, and use the Internet in an ethical manner to research, communicate, collaborate, and efficiently retrieve information; Introduction to ICT Research Methodology and Statistics, ICT Research Tools and Techniques, ICT Research Methods, ICT / Software Research Methodologies, Ethical Issues in ICT Research; introduction to project design and planning; various methods in conducting scientific medical research; quantitative and qualitative designs including how to conduct clinical trials and documentation. the use of computer in data analysis and the use of operational research and functional analysis in project design and evaluation; Planning a Research; Ethical Issues in Research; Study Designs in Medicine and Public Health; Choice of Topic; Introduction (Problem Definition, Objectives); Formulation of hypothesis; Testing of hypothesis; Literature Search/Literature Review; Materials & Methods; Sample Size determination/Calculation; Instrument for data collection; Data Collection/Management; Presentation of Results (Data Presentation, Analysis etc); Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendations; Referencing; Project Write-Up

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

Learn how to use and configure essential office applications including word processing, spreadsheets.
Develop basic understanding of technologies and protocols used on the Internet, and how to effectively use Internet tools technologies including current web-based applications, e-mail, and social, networking tools; developing searching strategies; and basic web authoring.
Learn how to document their work, write clearly and appropriately in an Information Technology context, respect user’s data, including backup and security.
Be conversant with a range of research methods used in social settings, including experimental, quasi-experimental, and qualitative methods.
Identify and describe the elements of reliable and valid research and means to reduce bias in research
Present critiques of published research using appropriate concepts in research design
Develop a research design on a topic of their choosing, using an appropriate method

EPS 905 Management & Entrepreneurship 2 Credits

Covers concepts, history and development of entrepreneurship, the entrepreneur, Qualities and characteristics. The Entrepreneur and Business Environment, Identifying Business Ownership and Registration, starting and developing business ventures, Legal forms of business ownership and registration. Types of business ownership, feasibility studies, Role of Small and Scale Enterprise (SME) in the economy, Role of Government in Entrepreneurship, Business location and layout. Accounting for SME, Financing, SME, managing of SME, Risk Management of SME, success and failure factors of SME, Prospects and Challenges of Entrepreneurship in Nigeria Entrepreneurship in Nigeria Entrepreneurship. The practice of applied management and entrepreneurship. How to enhance entrepreneurship skills and manage business. Business prospects for students in higher institutions would be taught and the student would learn how to get into the right business. Research as an enterprise, conversion of intellectual property to business, how to patent breakthroughs in research

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this module student should be able to:

Have acquired the skill of developing businesses
Know ways of registering and financing a business
Know ways of Managing a business
Acquire skills of establishing a business
Appreciate research as an enterprise

EPS 906 Marine Biogeochemistry and Radioecology 3 Credits

The module in Marine Biogeochemistry and Radioecology is designed to highlight marine pollution with a view to giving the student a deep understanding of the distribution of the chemical components of the ocean, the cycling of key components, which chemical/ biological/ geological processes influencing the cycling, and how the cycles are coupled to climate and climate changes. Students will also be exposed to quantifying and assessing changes related to levels of radioactivity in the marine ecosystem. The main objective of this course is to provide a sound knowledge of marine biogeochemistry and existing concentrations of radionuclides in the marine environment together with the theoretical background and practical applications of the methodologies for the measurement monitoring and assessment of radioactivity in the marine environment.

Module content:

The distribution of chemical components into the ocean, their residence time and the ways in which they are transported; an overview of how different processes influence the chemistry of the ocean, including the role of vertical mixing, advection, biological processes and gas exchange between the air-sea interface; The use of chemical tracer elements to quantify the mixing processes in the ocean. Based on the natural cycling of carbon; climate change, human influence, changes in the ocean uptake of carbon dioxide and ocean acidification; environmental radioactivity with sources of radionuclides in the environment, factors influencing radionuclide migration and uptake in food chains and our ecosystems; sampling (biological sampling, marine sediments), for radionuclide monitoring; pre-treatment of environmental samples, radionuclide separation methods and specific counting techniques for low-level samples; marine biogeochemistry of radionuclides; interactions of radionuclides with marine biota; sources and distribution of anthropogenic radionuclides in different marine animals ; anthropogenic radionuclides in the marine environment (Case studies); assessment of alpha, beta and gamma-emitting nuclides in marine samples; collection and preparation of marine samples for radionuclides analysis; radioecology in every-day life

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

Identify the distribution of the chemical components in the ocean
Know the various sources of radionuclides
Carry out different sampling methods
Monitor radionuclide
Understand alpha, beta and gamma-emitting nuclides
Prepare samples for radionuclide analysis

EPS 907: Water Quality assessment and pollution monitoring 3 Credits

Course content:

An introduction to water pollution: pollution, pollutants, sources and types (point and area, primary and secondary), Chemical, Physical and Biological properties of Water, Water ecosystems, Integrated Water Resources Management, Freshwater, brackish water, marine and groundwater pollution, types of aquatic pollutants, Sources, environmental effects, control and management strategies of following types of aquatic pollutants: sediments and suspended matter, nutrients and algal toxins, pesticides, Persistent Organic Pollutants, oil, human sewage, Waterborne Pathogens and Water Microbiology. Thermal pollution, Radioactive material, Acid deposition, Heavy metals, PAH, PCBs, Plastic waste, Monitoring of aquatic pollution, Water quality standards, Global and national case studies on aquatic pollution. Acidification, alkalization and salinization, Leaching requirement and other remedial measures, Water logging and reclamation of waterlogged fields, Water resourcing Monitoring, Point source Protection, water and sewage purification (treatment), Decontamination Methods, Water quality indicators, Water Legislations, Standards, Instructions.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:

After completion of the course unit, the student will be able to;

describe the major types and causes for water pollution,
improve the water quality throughout the Surface water and groundwater (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater) when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.
explain the impacts of water pollution on ecosystem health, demonstrate competencies in the application of appropriate control and management strategies to minimize the pollution impacts on ecosystems.

EPS 908 Aquatic Toxicology and Seafood Safety 3 Credits

This course provides participants with a strong foundation of aquatic toxicology and how these concepts are applied to managing pollutants in aquatic environments. The course covers terminology, common test designs, and endpoints such as lethality and endocrine disruption. Important legacy and emerging pollutants of concern such as heavy metals, organic pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and nanoparticles will also be presented. Fate and transport as it relates to bioavailability and pollutant partitioning in aquatic environments will be discussed. Water Quality criteria from the Clean Water Act with an emphasis on, and examples of, site specific criteria for metals using hardness correction, water effects ratio (WER), and the biotic ligand model (BLM) are also included.

Course content:

What is Aquatic Toxicology? The History of Aquatic Toxicology, The Main Present and Future Challenges, what is Measured? What Causes Aquatic Contamination?; Introduction; Metals, Metalloids, and Organometallic Compounds; Other Inorganic Compounds, Including Factors Causing Eutrophication; Organic Compounds; Nanomaterials; Radiation; Genetic Modification; Classes of toxic chemicals (carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens, and others); Sources of toxic chemicals entering the aquatic environment; Exposure pathways for aquatic organisms; Biological, physical, and chemical factors affecting bioavailability and toxicity; Bioaccumulation, bioconcentration, and biomagnification; Modes of toxic chemical action, including enzyme inhibition and endocrine disruption; Types of toxic effects: biochemical, molecular, physiological, behavioral, population, and community; Toxicity testing methods: acute and chronic, single and multiple species. Laboratory assessment of toxicity: LC50, EC50, NOEC, LOEC, MATC, and dose-response curves. Field application of toxicology using the biomarkers; WORLD SEAFOOD PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION; Fish utilization; DEVELOPMENTS IN FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY SYSTEMS; Traditional quality control, Principles of sampling, The concept of probability, Modern safety and quality assurance methods and systems; Methods to manage quality and safety; Risk analysis, food safety objectives; ASPECTS OF SEAFOOD RISK ASSESSMENT; IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARDS IN SEAFOOD, Statistics on seafood-borne diseases, Detentions and rejections of seafood in international trade , Natural toxins in fish; CHARACTERIZATION OF HAZARDS IN SEAFOOD:- Biological hazards; Pathogenic bacteria, Production of biogenic amines, Viruses, Parasites, Aquatic biotoxins, Chemical hazards, Industrial and environmental contaminants, Veterinary drugs, Physical hazards; RISK MANAGEMENT TOOLS:- INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR FISH SAFETY AND QUALITY, The World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement; The agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures; The agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade; The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) ; Codex Alimentarius; The FAO Code of conduct for responsible fisheries; Sediment toxicity and seafood safety

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:

After completion of this module, the student will be able to;

Identify the cause and classes of aquatic toxic chemicals
Identify and characterize hazards in seafood
Know the relationship between bioaccumulation, bioconcentration and biomagnification of toxic chemicals in aquatic organisms
Know the regulatory framework for fish safety and quality

EPS 909 Seminar 2 Credits

Seminar topic related to environmental pollution and seafood safety and in the candidate’s area of interest will be developed and presented in a report and examined orally by a panel of internal examiners. The students are expected to undertake a detailed systematic review of current literature on the basic concepts that are related to seminar topic

EPS 910 Research Project 12 Credits

The candidate must design and execute an acceptable original project in any area related to marine pollution monitoring and seafood safety under supervision of an academic member of staff. For these projects, students will carry out original research. They will thus be exposed to practical research methods such as the design of empirical studies, data collection, collation, analysis interpretation, and reporting. Referencing shall be the APA style. Ethical approval MUST be obtained from the Research and ethics committee of the university. Defense of completed project shall be done at date fixed by the centre graduate committee and according to the guidelines set by the graduate school. Project shall be submitted in quarto size paper in BLACK bounded format and duly certified by project supervisor and must be submitted before the closing date given by the Centre