About the Project
Beck Restoration & Analysis of Nettleham Culvert Hydraulics (BRANCH)
Project Lead: Dr Bartholomew Hill, BHill@lincoln.ac.uk
Co-Lead: A. Prof Luca Moa, lumao@lincoln.ac.uk
Overview
This exciting funded Master’s by Research project, titled BRANCH (Beck Restoration and Analysis of Nettleham Culvert Hydraulics), is hosted by the University of Lincoln in collaboration with Nettleham Parish Council. The project investigates the causes and potential solutions to localised flooding issues in the Nettleham Beck – a chalk stream of ecological and community significance in Lincolnshire, UK.
The successful applicant will undertake field-based data collection and apply a 2D hydraulic modelling software (e.g. HEC-RAS 2D) to simulate the performance of existing culverts under various flow scenarios, as well as simulate a range of de-culverting and nature-based alternatives. The project will be conducted full-time over one year, starting October 2025, and includes direct engagement with stakeholders and opportunities for public outreach.
This is an ideal opportunity for a candidate looking to develop their skills in applied hydrology, geo-spatial analysis, and environmental modelling while contributing to an impactful, community-driven research effort.
The student will:
- Conduct topographic and hydrologic field surveys of Nettleham Beck.
- Install and download data from water level monitors over the study period.
- Calibrate and validate a 2D hydraulic model using collected field data.
- Analyse the impacts of alternative culvert scenarios (e.g. de-culverting, bridge-only options, WSUD).
- Produce a full hydraulic report to be delivered to Nettleham Parish Council.
- Complete a Master’s by Research thesis with potential for academic publication and presentation.
Skills/Experience Required
Essential
- A 2:1 or above Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent experience).
- Independent thinking and a structured, analytical approach to research.
- Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to produce formal reports and a research thesis.
- Comfortable communicating with both technical and non-technical audiences (e.g., local councils, stakeholders).
- Strong quantitative or computational analysis skills (e.g. R, GIS, Python, MATLAB, Excel, etc.).
Desirable
- Experience with hydraulic/hydrological modelling software (e.g., HEC-RAS 2D, Lis-FLOOD, Info works ICM, etc.,)
- Academic or practical background in physical geography, environmental science, or civil engineering.
- Experience working with geospatial data and GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS, etc.).
- Ability to write clear, evidence-based reports or guidance documents.
- Interest in community engagement, public outreach, and environmental communication.
- Motivation to present findings at conferences and contribute to academic publications.
Funding and Support
Lump Sum Bursary: A lump-sum of approximately £8,006 shall go to the successful applicant. The applicant may use these funds to support their tuition fees or for a living allowance for the duration of the project. For information about the MSc by Research Geography programme, inclduign entry requirement, starting in autumn 2025, please visit our course page.
Additional research costs: Fieldwork-related travel and equipment will be covered through project funding. All monitoring equipment (e.g. water Levelloggers and GPS) shall be provided by the University of Lincoln.
How to Apply
To apply for this role each your submission should include (each 1 page, A4, 11pt Arial):
- CV
- Research Statement detailing your research skills, alignment with the role and criteria, and your approach to conducting the MSc by Research project outlined
- Example Analysis: A visual figure, you have created, with a brief description of the data inputs, analysis methods, and your interpretation of the results. Additionally, you may provide some real-world implications or relevancy of this work (e.g., a figure of a flood simulation you conducted)
These should be submitted as one document, either Word or PDF, to bhill@lincoln.ac.uk or via the application advertisement on findaphd.com.
Timeline
Applications Deadline – 5pm (BST), 22 August 2025
Interviews – Start of September 2025
MSc project start date – October 2025
MSc project end date – September 2026
Contact Details
For any further information or specific enquiries about the MSc by Research project, please contact Dr Bartholomew Hill at BHill@lincoln.ac.uk.
Funding Notes
This funding is provided as a lump-sum of Approx. £8,006. The successful student may decide how they wish to allocate these funds.
