PhD Studentship: NERC Resilient Flood Futures (FLOOD-CDT). Assessing the eco-hydrological and geomorphic effects of floodplain restoration

Award summary

100% of home fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £19,237 (2024/25 UKRI rate), plus research project costs. 

Overview

The Centre for Doctoral Training for Resilient Flood Futures (FLOOD-CDT) will train the next generation of research practitioners who will make a tangible difference to future flood management in the UK and internationally. Our goal is to provide a nurturing and inspiring training environment to develop the independent future leaders we need who can translate research and innovation into practice. Find out more here: https://flood-cdt.ac.uk/ 

Naturally functioning floodplains provide a range of ecosystem services. Through hydrological connections to rivers, they store water helping to attenuate floods and maintain baseflows during droughts. They also facilitate biogeochemical processing of nutrients, aiding water quality remediation, and carbon sequestration. Despite their relatively small area, floodplains support a disproportionately high biodiversity due to dynamic geomorphic and hydrological processes that create a variety of habitats.  

This project will investigate the conservation and restoration of healthy floodplains, which potentially could mitigate the projected increasing frequency of extremes of flooding and drought associated with climate change and reverse biodiversity losses. Understanding floodplain responses to these multifaceted drivers of change and their controls will help underpin successful management of floodplains and plan restoration projects. 

Number of awards 

1 

Start date  

15th September 2025 

Award duration 

3.5 years 

Application closing date 

8th January 2025 

Sponsor 

Natural Environment Research Council 

Name of supervisor/s 

Claire Walsh (Newcastle University) 

Eligibility Criteria

You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project (inc. Geography, environmental science, engineering etc.). Enthusiasm for research, the ability to think and work independently, excellent analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements.  

Home and international applicants (inc. EU) are welcome to apply and if successful will receive a full studentship. Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.  

How to apply

Please visit our main funding advert for information on how to apply for this studentship. https://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-funding/search-funding/?code=FLOOD254  

Contact Details

Claire.walsh@newcastle.ac.uk