STREAM PhD in Civil Engineering – Performance monitoring and full-scale cost of manufactured SUDS components to manage urban runoff

Number of awards :
1

Start date and duration:
October 2017 for 3.5 years.

Application closing date:
Friday 2 June 2017. Interviews scheduled to take place between 12 and 22 June 2017.

Overview:
To inform the local government, industry and researchers alike this PhD study will investigate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems- SUDS components to determine efficacy, performance and full life-costs of the interventions.

The Project Partner is Hydro International who have developed this research idea and this studentship with us. The project will benefit from close collaboration with the industrial partner, but also from our on-going research projects e.g. at Science Central, UKCRIC and the Urban Observatory.

The PhD student will utilise our Smart sensor network with high temporal and spatial resolution to observe hydrological and catchment performances using our already funded equipment e.g. Weather station, Sap flow meters, Water quality sampler (ISCO), Soil moisture probes and many other measurement, as well as utilising life cycle assessment and costing models (based on our IBuild project and LCA software e.g. Umberto). Amongst others the study will investigate sedimentation and filtration system; assess bio retention/remediation system installed in the lysimetric testing zone and develop a model for upscaling and extrapolation the performance of the SUDS components to achieve improved urban catchments.

The primary research challenge is to define full-life costs of the installed systems for varying catchment types and conditions, as well as relating their performance to the environmental, societal and ecological benefits.

Sponsor:
EPSRC (https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/eligibility/) and Hydro International (https://www.hydro-int.com/en-gb)

Name of supervisor(s) and School:
Dr Paul Quinn (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ceg/staff/profile/pfquinn.html#background) and Dr Oliver Heidrich (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ceg/staff/profile/oliverheidrich.html#background), School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

Eligibility Criteria)
A first or upper second class honours and/or master’s degree in water resource, hydrology or civil engineering, or a related physical or sciences programmes. Depending on how you meet the EPSRC’s eligibility criteria (https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/eligibility/), you may be entitled to a full or a partial award. This award is only available to UK/EU students.

How to apply:
Please apply through the University’s online postgraduate application form.
( http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/).

All relevant fields should be completed, but fields marked with a red asterisk must be completed. The following information will help us to process your application. You will need to:

insert the programme code 8822F in the programme of study section.
Select ‘Doctor of Philosophy in Skills Technology Research and Management for the UK Water Sector (Full Time)’ as the programme of study.
insert the studentship code CI787 in the studentship/partnership reference field.
attach a covering letter and CV. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote reference code CI787 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project.
You should also email your covering letter and CV to Justine Easten ([Email Address Removed]).