PhD Studentship: Exploring the Legitimacy of River Health Monitoring

Start date: 29/09/2025   

Studentship funding 

Sponsored by the Leverhulme Trust and Cranfield University, this Connected Waters Leverhulme Doctoral programme studentship will cover the stipend (£19,237; tax free) and fees for up to 4 years for a home (UK) student.  

Fee status of eligible applicants: UK 

Duration of Award if full time preferred*: 4 years 

1^st Supervisor: Dr Heather Smith   

2^nd Supervisor: Dr Robert Grabowski 

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Environmental monitoring programmes are at the heart of how we understand the health of river ecosystems. This PhD research project will apply a political ecology perspective to explore the legitimacy of river monitoring programmes among different communities. The studentship is funded by the Leverhulme Trust through the Connected Waters Leverhulme Doctoral Programme, which is supporting new PhD research on human-environment interactions in freshwater ecosystems. The studentship covers fees and stipend for a home (UK) student for up to four years. 

Monitoring provides us with vital insights about how we use rivers and our impacts on them. They are also crucial tools in river governance, providing policy-makers and regulators with evidence to design improvement strategies, benchmark progress, and take enforcement action against infractions. 

As rivers in many parts of the world face increasing stresses due to climate change and other human impacts, interest in river health has grown, pushing monitoring programmes increasingly into the spotlight. At the same time, advancements in sensor technology and deployment mean that much larger ranges and volumes of river health data are becoming available. But questions over which parameters are monitored, how they are measured (and by whom), and the interpretation and transparency of the evidence generated, can significantly shape the legitimacy of monitoring schemes.

Drawing on a political ecology approach, the aim of this project is to explore the processes through which river monitoring programmes can become legitimised (and de-legitimised) among different communities, how the evidence is mobilised to construct different meanings of river health, and the implications this can have for river governance. The research will be associated with an existing ESRC research project, and will use case studies in the UK, Norway and Canada, with potential for travel to study sites for field work.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a first or second class UK honours degree or equivalent in a related discipline. Ideal candidates should have a background in an environmental discipline and knowledge of both river monitoring techniques (especially for biodiversity) and qualitative social research methods. However, if candidates can demonstrate significant strength in one of these areas, training can be provided to supplement the other component.

Funding  

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. 

How to apply

For further information please contact:
Name: Heather Smith
Email: h.m.smith@cranfield.ac.uk
Phone: +44 1234 75 4853

To apply please click above 'Apply' Button.

Keywords: environmental monitoring; political ecology; water quality; rivers; freshwater; ecology

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