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Click here to search FindAPhD.com for PhD studentship opportunitiesAbout the Project
In this PhD project, the student will quantify the likely effect of different natural flood risk management scenarios on agricultural production by developing a Bayesian Belief Network as a meta-model. This will provide key evidence that identifies how and where NFM might also benefit food production. This will improve the evidence base for farmers, farm advisors, policy makers and decision makers within the water industry, as the effect on production can be considered alongside flood risk in planning for where and how natural flood management might be implemented.
The model will include the direct effect of changes in practices and land use (e.g. crop choice, tillage practices, tree planting) and the indirect effects due to changes in flood risk. The model structure will be developed by interviewing local farmers to identify the key interactions. The student will then identify data (e.g. soil maps, remote sensing data, farm survey data) and process based models (e.g. crop models, hydrological models) that could be used to parameterise the model, and elicit expert knowledge where no data is available.
The approach will develop new methods for bringing together data from different sources into a meta-model and will highlight key uncertainties in current understanding of how changes in land use and management might affect agricultural production.
This PhD studentship is closely associated with the LANDWISE project (https://landwise-nfm.org/about/) which aims to assess the potential for natural flood management in the Upper Thames catchment, UK. The studentship offers the opportunity to interact with scientists and partners from a range of disciplines and institutions, and join a wider network of PhD students working on NFM.
The ideal candidate would have strong quantitative skills, be able to program (e.g. in MATLAB, C++, python or another comparable language) and have an interest in applying these skills to agriculture and environmental science. Training in Bayesian Belief Network will be provided if necessary. Applicants should hold or expect to gain a minimum of a 2:1 Bachelors Degree or equivalent in a relevant subject (e.g. computer science, engineering, maths, environmental science).
For further information please contact Dr Lindsay Todman, [Email Address Removed]
To apply for this studentship please submit an application for a PhD in Ecology and Agri-environmental Research to the University and select Dr Lindsay Todman as the PhD supervisor, see http://www.reading.ac.uk/graduateschool/how-to-apply/gs-how-to-apply-pgr.aspx
Funding Notes
Applications will be considered from only UK/EU candidates who hold (or expect to obtain) at least a 2:1 or 1st Class Honours Degree or Master's in a related subject (e.g. Environmental Engineering, Applied Mathematics).