Following the Flow: Advanced Isotope Techniques to Unravel River Nutrient Dynamics - PhD via FindAPhD

About the Project

We are seeking a highly capable candidate for an exciting PhD opportunity investigating nutrient cycling and biogeochemical processes in freshwater ecosystems in the UK. This studentship is part of the large European Research Council REFRESH project funded via UKRI, which is Researching the role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) as a nutrient resource in freshwater systems. The programme is led by Professor Penny Johnes at the University of Bristol and runs for 5 years.

Freshwater ecosystems are experiencing unprecedented biodiversity loss, with nutrient enrichment being one of the key drivers of this decline. Understanding how dissolved organic matter functions as a nutrient resource in these systems is critical for protecting freshwater habitats, managing water quality, and developing effective conservation strategies for these vital ecosystems. This PhD will combine innovative radioisotope and stable isotope approaches to track nutrient cycling and metabolic processes in freshwater ecosystems. The research will involve both controlled mesocosm experiments and field studies across different river systems to understand how organisms utilize and process various nutrient forms. The key research activities will include: (1) Application of multiple isotope techniques including radioisotopes (³⁵S, ³³P, ¹⁴C) and stable isotopes (¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O) to track nutrient cycling;^1,2 (2) The design and execution of mesocosm experiments examining nutrient uptake and transformation; (3) Field sampling and in-situ experimentation across contrasting river systems; (4) Analysis of nutrient cycling processes under different environmental conditions (e.g., climate change scenarios, extreme events and pollution incidents); (5) Integration of results with broader project objectives on DOM cycling and ecosystem function; and (6) working closely with the wider REFRESH team of investigators, postdoctoral researchers and research technicians on joint experiments, including another PhD student on the project studying cellular DOM metabolism in freshwater microbial communities and a third PhD student who will be developing novel targeted analytical methods for molecular scale quantification of DOM molecules in freshwaters.

1. Brailsford, F. L., Glanville, H. C., Golyshin, P. N., Johnes, P. J., Yates, C. A., Jones, D. L. (2019) Microbial uptake kinetics of different functional groups of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from river water and sediments. Scientific Reports, 9, 11229.
2. Gooddy, D. C., Lapworth, D. J., Bennett, S. A., Heaton, T. H. E., Williams, P. J., Surridge, B. W. J. (2016) A multi-stable isotope framework to understand eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems. Water Research. 88, 623-633.

Training and skills

In terms of training opportunities, the position offers access to state-of-the-art analytical facilities and training in advanced isotope techniques and biogeochemical methods. The student will also gain experience in working within a large, multidisciplinary research team with opportunities to collaborate with international partners and present at national and international conferences.

This project will be supervised and led by Prof. Davey Jones at Bangor University and co-supervised by Prof. Daren Gooddy at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and Prof. Penny Johnes at University of Bristol. It will also benefit from collaboration with project partners across multiple institutions. The student will join a dynamic research environment based at Bangor University but will also spend time at UKCEH in Wallingford and the University of Bristol to take advantage of training and research opportunities.

Candidate Requirements

The successful candidate will be expected to meet the following criteria:

• Hold or expect to obtain at least a first-class or upper second-class honours degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, Hydrology or related discipline
• Have good laboratory skills and some experience in analytical techniques
• Demonstrate excellent organisational and time management abilities
• Show enthusiasm for field-based research and willingness to conduct sampling in various weather conditions
• Have good mathematical and statistical skills

Scholarship

A fully funded UKRI PhD studentship including UK fees, a tax-free stipend at the UKRI minimum rate (£19,237 in 2024-25) and a full UKRI Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) to support project costs, training and travel is available at Bangor University, linked to a major UKRI funded programme led by the University of Bristol. Study will begin in September 2025 and is funded for four years. The deadline for applications is 31^st January 2025. 

Useful Links

For informal enquiries, please contact Prof. Davey Jones (d.jones@bangor.ac.uk).

How to Apply: please apply through the following link  https://apps.bangor.ac.uk/apply/

Application deadline: 31 January 2025