About the Project
This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the Red-ALERT CDT, hosted by the University of Exeter for entry in September 2025.
Overview of the Research:
Freshwater ecosystems are declining due to climate change and physical pressures on species worldwide, whereby extensive damage to river systems across the globe has driven to a huge loss of habitat and biodiversity. This has prompted, for example, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the Water Framework Directive and the Habitat Directive to compel urgent actions to protect and restore riverine environments, enhance habitat and catchment management. Large wood (LW) is an essential tool for river restoration, actively promoting the re-establishment of natural processes and biodiversity of river systems. Thus, LW in rivers is globally used to restore river functioning by enhancing fluvial processes and habitat diversity, such as increased flow variation and creation of fluvial landforms. However, the impact of LW on water quality, biodiversity increase, and ecology — especially in mitigating agrochemicals and pathogen discharges from, e.g., Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) — is still in its infancy. This PhD will address this knowledge gap, with the overall aim to estimate how processes related to water quality respond to river restoration with LW. Specifically, this PhD will address some crucial research questions:
· How does LW mitigate agrochemicals and pathogens diffusion in rivers and watercourses?
· What are the effects of LW on biodiversity and ecological health of invertebrate and fish population impacted by poor water quality?
· What is the role of LW in long-term water quality and ecosystem services in polluted river systems?
The PhD, based in the globally leading Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) at the University of Exeter, will involve a combination of in-situ ecological assessment, laboratory analysis leveraging state-of-the-art lab, and numerical water quality modelling. The PhD will also work alongside (and, indeed, cross-collaborating with) a recently funded NERC Pushing the Frontiers project based in CREWW on effects of LW on hydrological and geomorphic fluvial processes.
Project Keywords: Large wood; water quality; river restoration
Industrial Partner:
Southwest Water is the industrial partner 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) in a relevant subject, preferably in Physical Geography, Civil and/or Environmental Engineering, Biosciences and cognate areas. A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.
Applicants will need to have proven experience of GIS (open-source is particularly welcome), numerical methods, and (ideally) skills in R or similar coding environments. Ideal applicants will also have a Master’s degree in a relevant area, and will have familiarity and/or experience in water quality and hydrology with particular applications to fluvial environments and environmental restoration.
*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.
