PhD Studentship: Assessing Responses in Invertebrate Populations to Pollution in Southwest Rivers (PhD -Southwest Water funded)

Project Description:  Public concern about declining biodiversity across many different environments worldwide is growing and the fastest rates of biodiversity decline are occurring in freshwater systems. There has been a lot of recent media coverage on Combined Sewage Overflows (CSOs) and Surface Water Outflows (SWOs) but to what extent they may impact on riverine biota in the UK is unclear. Working in partnership with Southwest Water, this 4-year funded PhD scholarship, based in Biosciences and the newly established Centre for Resilience in the Environment, Water and Waste (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/creww/) is part of a major grant funded to help better understand the issue of CSOs and SWOs across three catchments in southwest England.

This PhD scholarship will focus on assessing the impacts of CSOs and SWOs on invertebrate populations in receiving rivers using a combination of field and lab based studies (biomonitoring and e-DNA) and analysis of historical invertebrate survey work across the chosen river catchments. Toxin biochemistry and microbial analyses will also be undertaken at the sampling sites for supporting the biological effect analyses. The student will develop impact/risk maps from the data gathered and apply modelling tools predict for impact assessments of CSOs/SWOs across the wider river catchments in the southwest. Thus, the student will contribute to a critical knowledge gap in water pollution and in turn help to improve the protection of our natural surface freshwater ecosystems.

The successful candidate will be based at the University of Exeter working with teams researching into a great variety of projects in environmental biology. The techniques employed in those research teams are wide ranging, specialising in ecotoxicology, water quality and environmental monitoring, whole organism physiology, including molecular and imaging methods, and studies on behaviour. As such there is a very rich learning environment and the post will offer great opportunities for gaining skill training in the very latest research methods and in-life studies focused on protecting the natural environment.

Applicants will possess a relevant degree (minimally, a 2.1 grade and/or a Masters level) in biological/environmental sciences. Some field experience and /or modelling skills would be an advantage. Good data handling skills are essential. The successful applicant will need to be able to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with the research project supervisory team and sponsor, Southwest water.

For more information about the project and informal enquiries, please contact the primary supervisor:

Professor Charles R. Tyler https://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/staff/profile/index.php?web_id=charles_tyler

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