PhD Studentship: Does peatland restoration mitigate or liberate metal contamination from historic tin mining sites?

The University of Exeter’s Department of Geography is inviting applications for a PhD studentship funded by the University, South West Water and the Environment Agency to commence 22nd September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. For eligible students the studentship will cover Home tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £20,112 for 4-years full-time, or pro rata for part-time study. The student would be based in CREWW at the Streatham Campus.

Quantifying the aquatic and terrestrial impacts of historic metal mining sites is crucial, as surface waters from these protected historic environment features are commonly used for drinking water, despite failing water quality standards for metals (manganese, nickel, cadmium, lead) and metalloids (arsenic). The impact of peatland restoration activities around these features is unknown and may have diametrically opposed outcomes; either reducing metal(loid) loading to the environment or liberating contamination from spoil heaps and river sediments. With a government drive to restore 280,000 hectares of peat by 2050, peat in and around these features must be restored where possible, but not at the expense of downstream water quality.

Funded by the University of Exeter, South West Water and the Environment Agency this PhD research project aims to determine the effects of historic metal mining and restoration activities on peatlands and their draining waters.

These aims will be achieved by identifying and mapping representative historical tin streaming locations and assessing their impact on receiving waters using existing, but poorly scrutinised, datasets. Using paired control-restored sites, the release or containment of metal(loid)s by restoration activities will be assessed though regular field sampling within South West England and laboratory analysis.

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