NERC RED-ALERT CDT: Linking the changing chemical environment to biological recovery across formerly industrial rivers - PhD

Cardiff University

Cardiff, UK 🇬🇧

Details

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the Red-ALERT CDThosted by Cardiff University for entry in September 2025.

Overview of the Research:

Using a combination of long-term data, fieldwork and water quality modelling, this PhD will characterise the changing chemical quality of two former industrial rivers and study how this underpins ecological recovery, from individual species to whole food webs.

Like many urban rivers across Europe, the Taff and Ely in south Wales have shown ecological improvements in recent decades as gross pollution associated with poor sewage treatment and polluting industries has declined. The diversity of invertebrates and other organisms has increased, alongside recolonisation by pollution-sensitive species including top predators such as dippers and otters. However, our data suggest that a complex mix of legacy and newly emerging pollutants, alongside climate change, may retard further recovery. Understanding how these multiple stressors affect organisms and their recovery from historical pollution is a priority for the management of both catchments.

The Taff and Ely are exposed to a diverse array of pollutant sources, including legacies of past land use (e.g. heavy metals, PCBs), discharges from wastewater treatment plants, sewer overflows and misconnections, road runoff, and land use upstream of urban areas. As a consequence, we need to: i) better characterise water quality and attribute pollutant sources across both catchments; ii) link these to data describing the change in ecological condition over recent decades, using organisms from across the food web to understand the drivers of, and barriers to, recovery, and iii) anticipate future problems by looking at how the chemical environment may change up to 2080. Modelling work will extend to other catchments in south Wales and beyond, helping to identify the reasons for failing ecological status and inform remedial action at both local and national scales.

The project is a partnership between Cardiff University, UKCEH, Afonydd Cymru, South East Wales Rivers Trust, Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales, providing a unique blend of academic, conservation and regulatory perspectives. Working at the interface between government, regulatory and NGO priorities, it will address ongoing problems in the river environment. In the process, the studentship will provide excellent scientific training, including water and biological sampling, cutting-edge analysis of large, biological and environmental data sets, and GIS.

Project Keywords: Pollution, ecology, conservation, modelling, rivers

Industrial Partner:

Natural Resources Wales, the Welsh Government, Afonydd Cymru, and the South East Wales Rivers Trust are all industrial partners on this project.

Candidate Requirements:

Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or good Upper Second-Class UK Honours degree (or the equivalent) preferably in biological or environmental sciences or a related subject.

A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous in a relevant subject, and/or experience in biological or chemical sampling of freshwaters, and/or data analysis and modelling in R (or Python).

*Non-UK applicants must meet the programme’s English language requirement prior to a formal offer being made. 

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:

We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups.

If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.

Enquiries and Applications:

Formal applications should be submitted via the Red-ALERT CDT online application form prior to the closing date of this advert.

Funding Notes

Candidates may be considered for a NERC Red-ALERT studentship tenable for 3.5 years. Funding covers tuition fees, a stipend (ÂŁ19,237 p/a in 2024/5) and access to a training support budget.  


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

You ad could be here!