catchment PhD Projects, Programs & Scholarships

Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project has funding attached for UK and EU students, though the amount may depend on your nationality. Non-EU students may still be able to apply for the project provided they can find separate funding. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Citizen Science and public participation in the collection of environmental observations for water management (ecosystem health, water quality and resources issues) is a growing field of research activity and long-term monitoring in the water sciences.

Flood mitigation schemes in rural communities in the south west of England

Kingston University
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing

Dr K Clarke, Dr A P Dykes, Dr M Ibsen

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

There have been several severe flood events in southwest England in recent years, including Boscastle in 2004, Dawlish in 2014 and Coverack in 2014 and July 2017.

PhD Studentship in Multi-scale water resources planning in England and Wales

Newcastle University
School of Engineering

Prof C Kilsby

Application Deadline: 31 July 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project has funding attached for UK and EU students, though the amount may depend on your nationality. Non-EU students may still be able to apply for the project provided they can find separate funding. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Number of awards. 1. Start date and duration. September 2020. 4 year studentship. Overview. Water resources are under unprecedented pressure as Great Britain is projected to be in deficit by up to 16% of the total demand in the 2050s.

Biology of the invasive Chinese mitten crab in the river Thames

Royal Holloway, University of London
School of Biological Sciences

Prof D Morritt

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

The Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, is an invasive brachyuran crab species (one of the top 100 most invasive species) that is now well established in the River Thames and tributaries.

GW4 FRESH CDT PhD Studentship - Stereoisomerism of antimicrobial agents and risks to freshwater ecosystems

University of Bath
Department of Chemistry

Prof B Kasprzyk-Hordern

Application Deadline: 11 June 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

GW4 FRESH is a consortium of the UK’s top research intensive universities. Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter and research organisations, British Geological Society and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

Holocene rapid climate change and vegetation response in Cappadocia, Turkey

University of Birmingham
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Dr W J Eastwood, Dr J P Sadler

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Multi-proxy approaches to integrated regional studies of environmental variability during the late Glacial and Holocene can provide valuable insights into the ways that significant shifts in climate have affected natural ecosystems, landscapes and human activities over decadal, centennial and millennial timescales.

Water Sensitive Cities and Commons: using recycled water for maintenance irrigation to sustain green-blue infrastructure and to supplement the urban form hydrology

University of Reading
School of the Built Environment

Dr K Hyde

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Communities with existing urban water infrastructure face barriers to engagement between the urban community and the urban water environment; for example in the case of streams still culverted or unhealthy, overgrown feeder streams and ponds that have lost a social role or function.

Microsensors for enhancing the sustainability of hydropower in developing nations

University of Southampton
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Research Group: Water and Environmental Engineering

Dr P Kemp

Application Deadline: 31 August 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

Supervisor. Prof Paul Kemp, Professor Paul White. Project description. The project aims to help develop more environmentally sensitive hydropower for Europe and developing nations (e.g.

Translating sensor technology to advance sustainable hydropower in developing nations

University of Southampton
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Research Group: IRIS Centre

Dr P Kemp

Application Deadline: 31 August 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

Supervisory team. Paul Kemp and Paul White. Project description. The project aims to help develop more environmentally sensitive hydropower for developing nations in South America, Africa and Asia by advancing and translating sensor technology in two key areas.

Research opportunities in the Department of Environment and Geography

University of York
Department of Environment and Geography

Funding Type

PhD Type

Social Sciences Research Programme

Social Sciences Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

Awaiting Funding Decision/Possible External Funding

This programme is waiting to confirm funding from a university or external source. This may depend on attracting suitable students and applications are welcome. Please see the programme details for more information.

We offer an outstanding, dynamic and multidisciplinary environment in which to carry out PhD research. MPhil/PhD in Human Geography and Environment.

Disappearing into thin air? Understanding degradation of plastic polymers in soils and freshwaters

Lancaster University
Lancaster Environment Centre

Dr B Surridge

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project has funding attached for UK and EU students, though the amount may depend on your nationality. Non-EU students may still be able to apply for the project provided they can find separate funding. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Plastic pollution is one of the most pervasive threats facing global ecosystems. However, very little is known about the processes and governing factors that control the persistence of plastic polymers within environmental matrices such as soil or freshwater.