PhD Studentship: Estuaries of the Future: Understanding the Impacts of Wetland Restoration to Inform Scaled-up Planning

Project advert

Coastal wetlands, including mangroves and saltmarshes, are vital nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate mitigation and adaptation. They trap sediment, store carbon, and reduce storm surge impacts. Large-scale restoration of these habitats is now a global priority, requiring a shift from single-site projects to landscape-scale initiatives and introducing new scientific challenges.

However, individual wetlands respond dynamically to sediment supply, tides, and vegetation growth. At estuary scales, restoration in one area can alter flow and sediment patterns, influencing future restoration success and flood resilience elsewhere. Current models treat sites in isolation, lacking tools to predict these feedbacks.

This three-year PhD will develop and apply cutting-edge numerical modelling to understand how multiple restoration schemes interact across entire estuaries. There may also be a fieldwork component to validate model outputs and explore real-world restoration dynamics. Working within Manchester Metropolitan University’s strong coastal research community, and collaborating with a leading wetland restoration charity, you will address a critical knowledge gap: predicting knock-on effects of restoration for carbon storage, habitat evolution, and climate adaptation.

Project aims and objectives

The research will be structured around four key objectives:

• Calibrate and validate numerical models using data from saltmarsh and mangrove estuaries.
• Evaluate the impacts of restoration design decisions in real estuary settings.
• Compare multiple estuaries to assess how context influences restoration outcomes.
• Optimise restoration strategies for a case-study estuary.

The project will leverage site-specific knowledge and calibration data from previous UK and West African estuary research, ensuring strong foundations and added value to existing funded initiatives.

Funding

Only home students can apply. Home tuition fees will be covered for the duration of the 3.5 year award, which is £5,006 for the year 2025/26.

The student will receive a standard stipend payment for the duration of the award. These payments are set at a level determined by the UKRI, currently £20,780 for the academic year 2025/26.

Specific requirements of the candidate

We are seeking an enthusiastic candidate with a strong background in environmental science, geography, engineering, or a related discipline. 

• Applicants should hold (or expect to hold) a good honours degree (2:1 or above) or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• A willingness to engage with interdisciplinary approaches combining modelling and fieldwork is essential, as the project may include site visits and data collection.
• Experience in numerical modelling, GIS, or hydrodynamics is desirable, but not essential and training will be provided.
• Prior research experience and programming skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB) would be desirable but are not essential. 

How to apply

Interested applicants should contact Prof Tom Coulthard (T.Coulthard@mmu.ac.uk) for an informal discussion. 

To apply you will need to complete the online application form for a full time PhD in Natural Sciences. 

Please complete the Doctoral Project Applicant Form, and include your CV and a covering letter to demonstrate how your skills and experience map to the aims and objectives of the project, the area of research and why you see this area as being of importance and interest. 

Please upload these documents in the supporting documents section of the University’s Admissions Portal.

Applications closing date: 10 March 2026

Expected start date: October 2026

Please quote the reference: SciEng-TC-2026-27-Future Estuaries

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