PhD Studentship in Simulating high frequency water quality data and testing the impacts of sediment and nutrient management options at the catchment scale

Number of awards
1

Start date and duration:
January 2021 for 4 years.

Overview:

The management of nutrient and sediment losses in European catchments remains a complex challenge and tools that allow management options to be explored will reduce agricultural diffuse pollution. Better management requires two main aspects, i) understanding how and why nutrients are sediments are lost to the channel and ii) how manipulation of the upstream catchment can decrease that risk. Both issues are addressed through hydrological flow pathway modelling. Newcastle has developed CRAFT (The Catchment Runoff Attenuation Flux Toolkit), Adams et al., 2015, 2016, 2018. The model can also simulate mitigation options such as sediment traps, wetlands and Natural Water Retention Measures, which are now being trailed in Ireland.

The Teagasc Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP) has produced unique datasets for water quality studies. Two catchments in County Wexford, Ireland and a Newcastle catchment will be studied. The project will study and simulate flow, nitrate, soluble reactive phosphorus, total P and suspended sediment for multiple storm events. A Toolkit is needed to incorporate a range of NWRM options; including spatial GIS scenarios combined with CRAFT. This project includes Teagasc investment at ACP sites to test sediment traps and wetlands during the PhD. By including land management options within a new modelling framework benefits for the wider user community both nationally and globally are gained.

Sponsor:

The PhD scholarship is a joint research project between Teagasc, and Newcastle University UK (https://bit.ly/30DTLs2). The student will be based at Teagasc Johnstown Castle in Wexford and will be registered at Newcastle University. under the supervision of Dr Per-Erik Mellander (Teagasc) and Dr Paul Quinn (Newcastle).

Name of supervisor(s):

Dr Paul Quinn (Newcastle) (https://bit.ly/2StEsxx) and Dr Per-Erik Mellander (Teagasc)

Eligibility Criteria:

Distinction in relevant MSc or first class honours in a relevant undergraduate degree.
This award is available to Home and international candidates. If English is not your first language, you must have IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills).
How to apply:

You must apply through the University’s online application form (https://bit.ly/2Sw4vnF).

You will need to:

insert the studentship code ENG078in the studentship reference field
upload a covering letter and CV. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote reference code ENG078 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project
quote the programme code 8040F and ‘PhD Civil Engineering – Geomatics’ as the programme of study
upload degree transcripts and certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualifications.

You should also send your covering letter and CV to Dr Paul Quinn (https://bit.ly/2StEsxx) email to [Email Address Removed]