Integrated indicators of ecological health for rivers based on riverbed biofilms – PhD

Pollution has resurfaced as a critical issue for the health of river ecosystems. Persistent and emerging water quality problems are being highlighted regularly by the media and community groups, pressuring regulators to reassess monitoring and assessment approaches.

Numerous methods exist for water quality and ecological assessment, but they focus on individual attributes or problems, which can hinder the holistic assessment of water quality and its ecological impacts. This is especially challenging for rivers affected by multiple pressures, such as a modified hydrological regime, altered form and riverbed substrate, invasive and non-native species, climate change, continuous discharge of treated wastewater effluent, and intermittent organic and chemical pollution (e.g. combined sewer overflows). A new approach is needed that builds on existing biomonitoring methods to provide a richer understanding of the impact of these pressures on ecological community structure and function.

River biofilms offer great potential as a bioindicator of river health. The visual presence of one type of river biofilm, sewage fungus, has been used for decades to identify sources of organic pollution. However, recent research has demonstrated that the river biofilm community responds to a wider range of water quality and environmental variables. Even intermittent sources of pollution that are difficult to capture with existing monitoring approaches have been shown to cause changes in biofilm community structure and function.

In this project, you will advance new indicators of river health that integrate the impacts of water quality pressures, hydromorphological alteration, and ecological degradation. In partnership with key stakeholders, you will design a field survey, collect samples of riverbed biofilms for metagenomic sequencing, and analyse the results in consideration of environmental data collected by other organizations and citizen scientists. You will have the flexibility to expand the interdisciplinary elements that interest you the most, such as the microbiology of riverbed biofilms, the sorption of contaminants to the biofilm matrix, or community perceptions of naturalness and health. An ideal candidate for this position has a BSc and MSc in environmental sciences, physical geography or biology, knowledge of metagenomic analyses, and a passion for the natural environment.

This fully funded studentship is part of the Connected Waters Leverhulme Doctoral Programme, which is funding up to 18 PhD studentships to conduct multidisciplinary research on freshwater ecosystems, across two universities, Cranfield and Roehampton. The programme aims to develop a deeper, holistic understanding of the interactions between humans and the environment to support sustainable solutions to the environmental challenges affecting our river, lake, wetland, and groundwater ecosystems. To find more information on the programme and other research topics, please see the official CONNECT website.

At a glance

• Application deadline01 May 2024
• Award type(s)PhD
• Start date01 Oct 2024
• Duration of award3 years
• EligibilityUK, EU, Rest of World
• Reference numberSWEE0247

Entry requirements
Applicants should have a first or second class UK honours degree, BSc or equivalent in environmental sciences, physical geography or biology, and knowledge of metagenomic analyses
Funding

This Leverhulme doctoral programme will recruit scholars in three cohort over three successive years. In total the award will fund up to 18 full time PhD Scholarships, including three scholarships for international applicants, 12 home (UK) PhD scholarships, and three Master’s plus PhD scholarships. Of these, 6 home, 2 international and 1 Master’s plus PhD scholarship will be based at the Cranfield University.

Each PhD scholarship award will include fees and stipend costs for scholars for up to 4 years paid at UKRI’s standard domestic rate, with an additional grant of £10,000 to each student for research expenses.

For Master’s plus PhD scholarships there is funding (fees and stipend) for an additional 1 year Master’s programme before the PhD programme commences

Eligibility requirements:

For Doctoral Scholarships:

Scholars must be registered as full-time PhD students or provide a minimum time commitment of 50%, if part time students, unless the Trust gives explicit permission for this to be varied. Scholars will be subject to the terms and conditions applying to doctoral students within the host institution where they are registered.

For Master’s Plus Scholarships

To be eligible for the Master’s plus PhD Scholarships, candidates must fulfil the following criteria as specified by the Leverhulme Trust:

    Be a UK domiciled student
Not already have a Master’s degree from the host institution
Be from a low-income household background as evidenced by being in receipt of a full maintenance loan or Special Support loan during their undergraduate studies

and/or identify as one of the following categories of ethnicity:

    Black African
Black Caribbean
Black Other
Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
Mixed – White and Black African
Other mixed background (including Black African, Black Caribbean and Black Other)

Cranfield Doctoral Network

Research students at Cranfield benefit from being part of a dynamic, focused and professional study environment and all become valued members of the Cranfield Doctoral Network.  This network brings together both research students and staff, providing a platform for our researchers to share ideas and collaborate in a multi-disciplinary environment. It aims to encourage an effective and vibrant research culture, founded upon the diversity of activities and knowledge. A tailored programme of seminars and events, alongside our Doctoral Researchers Core Development programme (transferable skills training), provide those studying a research degree with a wealth of social and networking opportunities.

How to apply

For further information please contact:

Dr Robert Grabowski

Email: [email protected]

T: (0) 1234 758 310 

If you are eligible to apply for this research studentship, please complete the online application form  stating the reference number SWEE0247.