SSA-funded PhD student Josie Dunn is developing an early warning system to detect emerging drug trends sooner and help prevent harm from new substances. Josie spoke to Fiona Hughes about her journey to becoming a PhD student.
Josie’s interest in addiction science began during her undergraduate degree, when she attended lectures on novel psychoactive substances and addiction, and discovered her passion for the field.
Josie went on to study benzodiazepines for her undergraduate dissertation, exploring patterns of use and the harms associated with them. The experience sparked a strong interest in research, and she returned to Swansea to complete a Master of Research (MRes), investigating the use of veterinary drugs in humans and examining how substances intended for animals appear in human drug markets.
There’s often a lag between drugs appearing on the market and being regulated. Unfortunately, people can be harmed during that gap. My research is trying to close it.
While searching online for funding opportunities, Josie came across the SSA PhD studentship scheme, which would allow her to continue working on novel psychoactive substances. Uniquely, the SSA funding allowed her to propose and develop her own research idea. “I was really excited about the SSA funding because it meant I could continue working on the topic I was passionate about.”
Josie’s PhD focuses on using web-based modelling and techniques to improve how emerging drug trends are detected before they cause widespread harm. Currently, new substances are often identified only after significant harm has already occurred, for example through overdose deaths, drug seizures, or prison drug testing.
Josie’s research aims to develop a rapid early warning system that can identify potential new substances earlier by combining multiple sources of intelligence. These include online monitoring, predictive modelling, and pharmacological analysis. Ultimately, Josie hopes the framework she develops could help public health organisations and policymakers respond more quickly to emerging drug threats. “There’s often a lag between drugs appearing on the market and being regulated. Unfortunately, people can be harmed during that gap. My research is trying to close it.”
Opportunities through the SSA
Josie began her PhD in October 2025 and attended the SSA Annual Conference shortly afterwards with support from the studentship. The experience introduced her to the wider addiction research community and provided opportunities to begin building professional networks.
I’m proud of all the little things that are coming together – the collaborations, the conferences and the international work. I feel like it’s my career now, rather than just a degree.
Since then, she has presented at the London Toxicology Group Conference and started developing collaborations with organisations and researchers working in the field. For Josie, one of the most valuable aspects of SSA funding is the time it provides to focus fully on research.
Her PhD also includes an international element. In January, Josie travelled to Sardinia, where one of her supervisors is based, to take part in a scientific training school and develop collaborative research. “I’m proud of all the little things that are coming together – the collaborations, the conferences and the international work. I feel like it’s my career now, rather than just a degree.”
Josie encourages anyone considering applying for SSA funding to take the opportunity. “If I hadn’t applied, I’d probably still be working somewhere completely unrelated. This gave me the chance to do what I really want to do. Don’t give it a second thought – just apply. You never know what might happen.”
by Fiona Hughes
The SSA is opening applications for the PhD studentship scheme on 27 May 2026. If you have any questions, please contact the SSA team at enquiries@addiction-ssa.org.
