PhD Studentship: Quantifying Natural Flood Management Through Peatland Restoration in the Upland Moorland Environment, Physical Geography – PhD (Environment Agency and South West Water Funded)

The University’s Department of Geography invites applications for a PhD studentship funded by the Environment Agency and South West Water and the University of Exeter to commence on 22nd September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.  For eligible students the studentship will cover Home or International tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £20,776 for 3.5 years full-time, or pro rata for part-time study.  Students will be based at the CREWW building on Streatham Campus in Exeter.

Flooding is the most common natural disaster, impacting billions worldwide. Natural Flood Management (NFM), a nature-based solution opposed to traditional ‘grey’ engineering, offer catchment-level solutions by using natural processes to slow and store water through a series of diffused interventions.

Historically, NFMs have been tested in lowland catchments where interventions such as floodplain reconnection or wetland restoration helps store water and attenuate peak flows. Interventions in headwater and upland catchments, however, have yet to be investigated. Located in the headwaters of many rivers, peatlands have been recognised as a key nature-based solutions against flooding for their NFM potential.  Restoration efforts have been undertaken to re-wet degraded peat areas by blocking ditches and erosional gullies. However, the hydrological response of peatlands is poorly characterised, unlike lowland areas reduction in peak flows continue to occur once surface storage is full, potentially due to their unique vegetation and micro-topography.

This PhD will address research gaps in quantifying how much peatland restoration can benefit NFM efforts in moorland. Specifically, there is a need to understand how and why peak flow reductions persist following restoration and reduced surface water storage capacity during events, and the potential for peatland restoration to have significant impacts on peak flow reductions if a wider area of the moor is restored. This PhD will employ in-depth hydrological monitoring and fine-scale, fully distributed hydrological modelling, with the ultimate goal of optimising NFM strategies in moorland, to improve flood resilience for rural, upland communities.

The collaboration involves two project partners, Environment Agency and South West Water, who are providing funding and other material support to the project. This means there are special terms that apply to the project, these will be discussed with candidates at interview and fully set out in the offer letter.

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