PhD Studentship - Future Rivers: Environmental Trajectories and Biodiversity Responses in 21st Century Freshwater Systems, CASE Project with Defra

Qualification type: PhD

Location: Essex

Funding for: UK Students, EU Students, International Students

Funding amount: All UKRI-funded PhD students (UK, EU, International) will be eligible for the full award – both the stipend to support living costs, and fees at research organisations UK rate. UKRI funding will not cover international fees set by universities, but all ARIES partners have agreed to fund the top-up from UK to international fees. ARIES funding will not cover costs associated with visa or health surcharges, or additional costs associated with entry to, and living in the UK.

Hours: Full Time

Closes: 7 January 2026, 23:59 GMT

Application link: https://www.essex.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/doctoral-training-partnerships/aries

ARIES (Advanced Research and Innovation in the Environmental Sciences) is a Doctoral Landscape Award with the mission “to train postgraduate research students with excellent potential from across society, equipping them with the necessary skills to become 21st Century Scientists: leaders in the science and sustainable business of the natural environment.

Scientific background

The Global Biodiversity Framework places freshwaters at the heart of plans to bend the curve of biodiversity loss. In the UK, legally binding species abundance targets require governments to reverse declines within the next 20 years. One-quarter of species contributing towards these targets are riverine, placing emphasis on understanding drivers of biodiversity loss and recovery in rivers.

Environmental change will frustrate attempts to stem freshwater biodiversity loss. UK rivers are rapidly warming, whilst extreme flood and drought risks are intensifying. Nutrient enrichment, sanitary water quality and heavy metal pollution remain significant stressors, yet a range of emerging contaminants pose new threats to freshwater life.

With river ecosystems changing so rapidly, the past is an increasingly poor guide to the future. Scientists, policy makers and conservation managers need to look ahead at future challenges, allowing them to legislate for, plan and deliver conservation actions that are resilient to uncertain environmental changes.

Research methodology

Through physical and statistical modelling combined with quantitative meta-analysis and stakeholder engagement, you will develop new socioeconomic and climatic scenarios to understand the likely trajectories of UK river ecosystems through the 21st century. You will engage stakeholders to develop qualitative scenarios, construct models to simulate hydrological, thermal and water quality regimes under those scenarios, and ultimately predict the response of river biodiversity to the end of the century.

Training

You will gain significant technical skills in hydrological, thermal, water quality and biodiversity modelling, as well as expertise in research design, academic writing, stakeholder engagement, data management, statistical programming, and high-performance computing. Practical training on freshwater species conservation biology and biodiversity policy will be provided by project partners Buglife and Defra.

Person specification

We seek an individual with a quantitative background and an interest in freshwater systems. Experience in statistical programming and environmental modelling is desirable. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical and communication skills, with an enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research addressing real-world conservation challenges.

Acceptable first degree subjects: Ecology, Physical Geography, Environmental Management, Environmental Science.

To apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.

Advert information