Application Deadline: 28 April 2026
Details
This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the Red-ALERT CDT, hosted by Cardiff University for entry in September 2026.
Overview of the Research:
Pharmaceuticals play a vital role in human and animal health, yet their presence in aquatic environments poses growing ecological risks. Many medications are still inappropriately disposed of via household drains or toilets, entering wastewater systems that are not designed to remove them. These pollutants ultimately reach rivers, where they threaten aquatic ecosystems and potentially impact water quality and biodiversity. This PhD project investigates how everyday behaviours contribute to pharmaceutical pollution in freshwater systems in Wales and explores strategies to reduce it. In partnership with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW, the main water utility in Wales), the project aligns with their shared priorities to understand pollutant sources, behavioural drivers, and effective communication strategies for river protection. It will integrate approaches of the social, ecological, and water sciences to create a holistic understanding of how to manage freshwaters sustainably. The Ely catchment, with its industrial legacy and diverse urban communities, provides a key Welsh case study linking social behaviour with environmental outcomes.
Building on historical monitoring data from the Ely River, the project will:
1. Identify priority pharmaceutical compounds based on treatment plant screening capacities and ecological risks;
2. Analyse temporal and spatial trends in pollutant occurrence, linking these to catchment demographics and community profiles;
3. Investigate public disposal practices through surveys and in-depth community interviews; and
4. Co-develop interventions and communication strategies with communities and stakeholders to promote sustainable pharmaceutical disposal behaviours.
This interdisciplinary research will deliver actionable outcomes for water utilities and environmental regulators, including evidence-based communication toolkits for behaviour change, spatial risk maps linking demographics to pollution hotspots, and transferable frameworks for community-led water quality protection. The DCWW partnership ensures findings directly inform operational practice and policy development. By integrating behavioural insights with chemical and ecological evidence, the project supports the development of real-time evidence platforms and provide a transferable model for other catchments across the UK and beyond to address socio-environmental challenges.
Training Provided:
The candidate will receive interdisciplinary training spanning social, ecological, and environmental sciences. This includes mixed-methods research, survey design, qualitative interviewing, ecological monitoring, environmental data analysis, and risk assessment. They will also develop transferable skills in stakeholder engagement, science communication, and policy translation through collaboration with industry, regulators, and academic partners.
Interdisciplinarity:
This project bridges social science, ecology, and environmental science, fostering collaboration between environmental psychologists, risk researchers, ecologists, and water scientists. By integrating environmental monitoring with behavioural research, it develops a systems-based understanding of the causes and consequences of pharmaceutical pollution and supports the coproduction of practical, community-driven interventions for sustainable freshwater management.
Project Keywords: Interdisciplinary, Environmental, Water Quality, Biochemistry, Omics
Industrial Partner: Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water
Candidate Requirements:
Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or good Upper Second-Class UK Honours degree (or the equivalent) in a relevant subject e.g. (environmental) psychology, geography, environmental science, or related social or natural sciences. Academic qualifications are considered alongside significant relevant non-academic experience. A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:
We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and 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.
Enquiries and Applications:
Formal applications should be submitted via the Red-ALERT CDT online application form prior to the closing date of this advert.
Funding Notes
Candidates may be considered for a NERC Red-ALERT studentship tenable for 3.5 years. Funding covers tuition fees, a stipend (£21,805 p/a in 2026/7) and access to a training support budget.
