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 river and lake systems are integral in global carbon and water cycles, whilst being the main pathway for components from terrestrial sources to the ocean sinks – the land-ocean-continuum1, their complexity is little understood, leading to uncertainties in the global carbon budget estimates2. And, as new synthetic and engineered materials (such as anthropogenic particulate matter, microplastics and fibres) increasingly enter our rivers, it is unknown what impact interactions between these particles with natural particulate matter may have in changing their buoyancy and settling rates in rivers and lakes and ultimately, their eventual transport to oceans.
Taking a systematic approach, we will build the evidence base from the lab scale through mesocosms and to whole catchment scales, to investigate the anthropogenic impact of changes in carbon and particulate matter loads on the river to ocean ecosystems. Together with catchment area hind-cast data, we will study the anthropogenic impacts on these natural ecosystems, leveraging the unique opportunity of the living lab system of the Exe/Tamar/Dart catchment areas.
The overarching aim is to identify how particulate matter, especially carbon and fibres, are transported and transformed within riverine systems from terrestrial source to ocean sink.
Objectives include:
O1) set up an observational system along the Exe riverine systems, including field-work and laboratory analyses for a number of different variables; can be extended to other rivers;
O2) study settling rates of riverine particles/fibre combinations;
O3) model the riverine transport and transformations, including hindcast and forecast processes;
O4) initiate a catchment system digital twin design.
Training Provided:
The project partners enable world leading training including fieldwork, lab-work, numerical skills, through communicating science, conveying system thinking and problem-solving skills.
The institutions’ excellent facilities including GSI, CREWW, EXCC, and aquatic mesocosms, facilitate training in monitoring and protecting water quality with links to anthropogenic impacts and policy making.
Interdisciplinarity:
A multi-disciplinary yet inter-linked team is brought together in this project, including expertise in global carbon cycle, water pollution and their impacts (including particulates and plastics), environmental risk assessments, policy briefing, and the highest standards in lab- and field-work, enabling a system thinking approach to the project.
Project Keywords: River systems, particulate transport and transformation, anthropogenic impacts
Industrial Partner:
Southwest Water, and the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) based at the University of Exeter, are both 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) in a relevant subject. A master’s level qualification would also be highly advantageous, or equivalent by experience fieldwork, lab-work, and data analyses; understanding of environmental pollution, river ecosystems, carbon cycling, or freshwater biogeochemistry.
*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. Â
References
Regnier et al. (2013) Anthropogenic perturbation of the carbon fluxes from land to ocean. Nature Geoscience, doi:10.1038/NGEO1830.
Friedlingstein et al. (2023) Global carbon budget 2023. Earth System Science Data, doi:10.5194/essd-15-5301-2023.
