Quantifying natural flood management through peatland restoration in the upland moorland environment, Physical Geography – PhD (Environment Agency and South West Water Funded)

About the award

Supervisors

Primary Supervisor – Dr Diego Panici

Secondary Supervisors – Dr Naomi Gatis, Dr Alan Puttock, Phil Metcalf (Environments Agency) Morag Angus (South West Water)

Flooding is the most common natural disaster, impacting billions worldwide. Natural Flood Management (NFM), a nature-based solution opposed to traditional ‘grey’ engineering, offer catchment-level solutions by using natural processes to slow and store water through a series of diffused interventions.

Historically, NFMs have been tested in lowland catchments where interventions such as floodplain reconnection or wetland restoration helps store water and attenuate peak flows. Interventions in headwater and upland catchments, however, have yet to be investigated. Located in the headwaters of many rivers, peatlands have been recognised as a key nature-based solutions against flooding for their NFM potential.  Restoration efforts have been undertaken to re-wet degraded peat areas by blocking ditches and erosional gullies. However, the hydrological response of peatlands is poorly characterised, unlike lowland areas reduction in peak flows continue to occur once surface storage is full, potentially due to their unique vegetation and micro-topography.

This PhD will address research gaps in quantifying how much peatland restoration can benefit NFM efforts in moorland. Specifically, there is a need to understand how and why peak flow reductions persist following restoration and reduced surface water storage capacity during events, and the potential for peatland restoration to have significant impacts on peak flow reductions if a wider area of the moor is restored. This PhD will employ in-depth hydrological monitoring and fine-scale, fully distributed hydrological modelling, with the ultimate goal of optimising NFM strategies in moorland, to improve flood resilience for rural, upland communities.

The studentship will be awarded on the basis of merit. Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply, but should note that the award will only provide payment for part of the international tuition fee (~£24k) and no stipend.   

International applicants should to be aware that they will have to cover the cost of their student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD.

The conditions for eligibility of home fees status are complex and you will need to seek advice if you have moved to or from the UK (or Republic of Ireland) within the past 3 years or have applied for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.  

The collaboration involves two project partners, Environment Agency and South West Water, who are providing funding and other material support to the project. This means there are special terms that apply to the project, these will be discussed with candidates at interview and fully set out in the offer letter.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of Physical Geography, Environmental Sciences, Civil Engineering and cognate areas.  Applicants with a Master’s degree in a related area are particularly welcome to apply.

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide proof of proficiency. Click here for more information.

How to apply

Apply now

To apply, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button above. In the application process you will be asked to upload several documents:

•            CV

•            Letter of application (outlining your research vision for this PhD, academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to join the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste).

•            Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying)

•            Two references from referees familiar with your academic work. If your referees prefer, they can email the reference direct to PGRApplicants@exeter.ac.uk quoting the studentship reference number.

•            If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English.

The closing date for applications is midnight on 23^rd June 2025.  Interviews will be held either virtually or in person at the University of Exeter Streatham Campus on the week commencing 7^th July 2025

All application documents must be submitted in English. Certified translated copies of academic qualifications must also be provided.

Please quote reference 5548 on your application and in any correspondence about this studentship.

Summary