Application Deadline: 28 February 2026
Details
The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Water Centre in collaboration with Anglian Water, South East Water and the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Water Infrastructure and Resilience.
PhD Studentship in: Algae speciation and bloom risks in drinking water reservoirs: linking microbiological and environmental parameters to prevent treatment impacts
Stipend: This post will fully cover university tuition and provide a tax-free stipend for Home students of £25,726 per year.
Closing Date for Applications: 28 February 2026
Start Date: 28 September 2026 (contract duration 4 years)
This PhD project investigates the increasing occurrence of algal blooms in drinking water reservoirs. Nutrient enrichment, rising temperatures and extreme weather events are driving the proliferation of algae, which threatens aquatic ecosystems and creates significant challenges for the treatment and supply of safe and high-quality drinking water. The project aims to develop a multiscale predictive analytics framework that integrates long-term algal speciation, water quality and meteorological datasets routinely collected by water utilities. The student will have the opportunity of using state-of-the-art machine learning methods (predictive analytics) to analyse large datasets provided by our industry partners.
A central component of the PhD will be a one-year sampling campaign, during which the student will conduct in situ monitoring across three drinking water reservoirs in collaboration with our industrial partners. Field activities will include analysis of water quality variables and collection of samples for subsequent eDNA analysis in the molecular laboratories at The University of Sheffield. The fieldwork will generate novel, high-resolution datasets to complement and validate existing long-term algae monitoring records based on time-consuming microscopy observations.
The project will provide the student with extensive training in large-scale data integration, machine-learning methods, field-based environmental monitoring and eDNA analysis, as well as experience working closely with water utilities. The outcomes will support the development of robust decision-support tools to safeguard drinking water quality and safety under a changing climate.
The research programme to be completed in this project will be undertaken as part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Water Infrastructure and Resilience (CDT WIRe). WIRe is a collaboration between the three leading UK Universities in water resilient infrastructure. Students will benefit from a bespoke training scheme delivered by world leading experts from academia and industry, access to world leading experimental and computational facilities as well as close and regular contact with industry and end user partners. WIRe is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community, and offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies. For further information on the WIRe scheme visit the web site at: https://cdtwire.com/
The project based at The University of Sheffield will be supervised by academics at Sheffield and Newcastle Universities. The supervisory team includes Dr Isabel Douterelo Soler, Dr Manuel Herrera and Dr Charles Rouge in collaboration with partners from Anglian Water and South East Water. There will be generous opportunities to travel to visit our industry partners in the UK.
Eligibility Criteria
This studentship is subject to standard RCUK eligibility criteria. It is open to all students with Home or Overseas residency (subject to a maximum quota of overseas students per training grant).
The selection criteria for the position are;
• A good honours degree (or equivalent experience) in Environmental Sciences, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Physical Geography, and Biological Sciences or a related subject.
• Interest in research in freshwater ecosystems, including machine-learning and ecological modelling.
• Interest in undertaking field work and laboratory analysis (eDNA) methods to monitor and evaluate risks of algal blooms in reservoirs.
• Familiarity with computer programming for data analysis, in particular Python, is a desirable skill. Candidates with a strong willingness to learn and apply Python throughout the project are also encouraged to apply.
• Good level of written and oral communication skills, as appropriate for disseminating research and communicating with project partners.
• Willingness to collaborate with other researchers, industry and end-users.
How to apply
Interested candidates should email a covering letter and their Curriculum Vitae to Miss Lindsay Hopcroft (cdtwireapps@sheffield.ac.uk). For information and informal enquiries please contact: Dr Isabel Douterelo Soler, i.douterelo@sheffield.ac.uk
Funding Notes
Stipend: This post will fully cover university tuition and provide a tax-free stipend for Home students of £25,726 per year.
This studentship is subject to standard RCUK eligibility criteria. It is open to all students with Home or Overseas residency (subject to a maximum quota of overseas students per training grant).
