PhD Studentship: Optimising Urban Blue Networks for Ecological Resilience and Community Wellbeing

Start date: 28/09/2026    

Fee status: UK

Duration *:  4 years 

1^st Supervisor: Alice Johnston    

2^nd Supervisor: Robert Grabowski 

This project is to investigate how urban blue networks can be optimised to enhance ecological resilience and community wellbeing. The project will examine how the configuration, connectivity and condition of these dynamic water systems, and their surrounding land cover, influence environmental buffering, biodiversity and social benefits.

Urban blue networks, including rivers, canals and wetlands, are dynamic systems that shape how cities respond to environmental stress and how people connect with nature. Their configuration, connectivity and interaction with surrounding land cover determine the extent to which they buffer heat, dilute pollution, support biodiversity and deliver social value. Yet these trade-offs remain poorly quantified in complex urban landscapes.

This PhD will investigate how urban blue networks can be optimised for both ecological resilience and community wellbeing. You will quantify how spatial patterns, network structure and environmental context influence the capacity of blue spaces to provide co-benefits such as biodiversity support, cooling, air quality regulation and access to nature. By integrating Earth observation, spatial AI, machine learning and socio-environmental datasets, the project will reveal where blue networks perform well across UK towns and cities, where benefits are unevenly distributed, and how design or management interventions could enhance resilience and equity.

A key component of the research will be developing advanced spatial models such as graph-based approaches and network analytics to predict how blue network dynamics, fragmentation and surrounding land use interact to shape ecosystem functioning and human wellbeing outcomes. These insights will directly inform future nature-positive urban design.

If you are passionate about ecological systems, urban sustainability or applying advanced quantitative methods to real-world environmental challenges, we would love to hear from you!

Entry requirements

Should have a first or second class UK honours degree or equivalent in a related discipline. Would suit someone with interests in ecology, environmental science, urban sustainability, geospatial analysis, or quantitative modelling. We particularly welcome applicants who are excited about integrating ecological understanding with data-driven methods. There is flexibility to tailor the research to your strengths and interests.

Funding

This fully funded Connected Waters Leverhulme Doctoral programme studentship is sponsored by the Leverhulme Trust and Cranfield University and covers a stipend (£20,780; tax free) and fees for up to 4 years for a home (UK) student.

To be eligible for this funding, applicants must be classified as a home student. We require that applicants are under no restrictions regarding how long they can stay in the UK.

Scholars must be registered as full-time PhD students or provide a minimum time commitment of 50%, if part time students, unless the Trust gives explicit permission for this to be varied. Scholars will be subject to the terms and conditions applying to doctoral students within the host institution where they are registered. 

How to apply

For further information please contact:
Name: Dr Alice Johnston

If you are eligible to apply for this studentship, please complete the online application form via the above 'Apply' button.

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