CDT-SIS-368: Nature-based hydraulic drop structures for water abstractions in rivers

We are pleased to announce a fully-funded iPhD studentship (4 years) in Civil Engineering at the University of Southampton, UK.

Lateral drop structures such as weirs have been built in rivers and streams around the world to control water abstractions from main river channels. These structures typically block the migration of fish, producing habitat fragmentation that often results in serious environmental impacts. Over the last decades increasingly stringent environmental regulations have promoted measures to mitigate migratory issues such as fish passages including the removal of small barriers. However, important challenges still exist due to the lack of methodologies to design sustainable and low-cost structures that provide accurate flow control across a range of discharges.

This project is aimed at developing novel solutions to overcome the above challenges. The work will involve the design and test of innovative solutions under controlled laboratory conditions. Experiments will be conducted at the hydraulics laboratories of University of Southampton, which include a 60m long flume and a 25m long tilting flume.

We are looking for highly motivated applicants with a MSc or MEng degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering or related fields. The project has a strong component of hydraulics. Candidates with a strong background and interest in hydraulics and fluid mechanics are particularly encouraged to apply. Training in different aspects of experimental hydraulics and river engineering will be provided. The successful candidate will join the Water and Environmental Engineering Group within the Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering and Science unit. The iPhD includes one year of training and is strongly engaged with international projects. During the first year students are expected to travel abroad as part of their project.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Dr Gustavo de Almeida, Water and Environment Engineering research group, Email: [Email Address Removed].

This project is being run in participation with the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (View Website). For details of our 4 Year PhD programme and further projects, please see http://www.cdt-sis.soton.ac.uk/