About the Project
This project is in competition for funding from the GW4+ Doctoral Landscape Training Partnership (DLTP) for entry in September 2026. The GW4+ DLTP consists of the Universities of Bath, Bristol and Exeter and Cardiff University plus five prestigious Research Organisation partners.
Lead Supervisor: Dr Thomas Kjeldsen, University of Bath, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
Co-Supervisor: Dr James Webber, University of Exeter, Centre for Water Systems
Project aims and methods:
This project will investigate the effectiveness of green infrastructure (GI), such as rain gardens, permeable pavements and green roofs, as scientific solutions to stormwater runoff and flood risk in urban areas. By combining hydrological/hydraulic modelling with economic appraisal, the research will evaluate both the performance and long-term value of GI. The key science questions are: (i) how do different GI interventions modify hydrological processes under varying rainfall and climate scenarios? (2) what are the associated economic costs and benefits, including wider ecosystem services? (3) how can uncertainty in climate and land use change be incorporated into decision-making? The doctoral researcher will play a central role in shaping the research direction, selecting study sites, refining modelling approaches, and integrating hydrological outputs with cost-benefit frameworks.
Training will include advanced hydrological and hydraulic modelling, GIS and spatial analysis, economic appraisal techniques, and interdisciplinary research methods. Supervisors will provide expertise in hydrology and impact assessments, while project partners will offer access to case studies, datasets, and practitioner perspectives, ensuring applied impact. The strength of this partnership lies in its interdisciplinarity, bridging academia and policy. The successful candidate will generate actionable evidence to guide sustainable urban water management.
Candidate requirements:
Applicants must have, or be about to obtain, a UK Honours degree 1st or 2.1, or international equivalent.
Non-UK applicants must meet the programme’s English language requirement before the application deadline, unless they are currently studying in the UK. No exceptions will be considered.
Useful recruitment links:
For information relating to the research project please contact the lead Supervisor via: trk23@bath.ac.uk
Application Instructions
Please follow the below instructions carefully.
You must make a formal application via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Civil Engineering.
Please note that you can apply for a maximum of two PhD projects on this programme.
In the ‘Funding Your Studies’ section, you must select ‘NERC GW4+’ from one of the drop-down menus.
In the ‘Your PhD project’ section, you must quote the project title in the PhD project title field, and you must quote the lead supervisor’s name in the field ‘Name of intended supervisor at University of Bath.’
You must also complete and upload a GW4+ DLTP Personal Statement with your application, the template for which is here.
You are only able to apply for one GW4+ DLTP project. If you wish to also apply for another University of Bath project (e.g. an URSA project), you must quote the project title for your second choice project in the field ‘Project 2 Title’ and the lead supervisor’s name in ‘Name of intended supervisor for 2nd choice project at University of Bath.
You must ensure that you follow the above steps correctly. Failure to complete these steps will cause errors in the automated processing of your application and may mean that you are not considered for a particular project.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We value a diverse research environment and strive to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We 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.
The Disability Service ensures that individuals with disabilities are provided the support that they need. If you state if your application that you have a disability, the Disability Service will contact you as part of this process to discuss your needs.
Project Science Theme: Science for Environmental Solutions
Project keywords: Hydrology, Nature-based solutions, Urban flooding
Funding Notes
Candidates may be considered for a GW4+ DLTP studentship tenable for 3.5 years. Funding covers tuition fees, a stipend (£20,780 p/a in 2025/26) and a generous allowance for research expenses and travel. Studentships are open to both Home and International students; however, International applicants should note that funding does NOT cover the cost of a student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK. In line with guidance from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the number of awards available to International candidates will be limited to 30% of the total.
