Developing novel tracer-based methods to investigate how pressures on upland wetlands alter flood and drought resilience

This project is part of the NERC-funded Centre for Doctoral Training, ECOWILD. For more details, and for a full list of projects offered under this programme, please visit:  https://ecowild.site.hw.ac.uk/

This project will investigate how land use and climate change pressures on upland wetland and floodplain systems, alter their role in modulating floods and droughts. You’ll develop innovative field-based and modelling methods, collaborating with a network of partners in Scotland’s wild and beautiful Southern Uplands, and working with leading research institutions as part of the UK’s new strategic Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure (FDRI) Programme.

You’ll apply novel paired hydrometric and water tracer methods to this challenge. These approaches offer potential for a step change in how we conceptualise eco-hydrological processes and develop hydrological models that give the ‘right results for the right reasons’. However, they are still rarely used and have not been applied widely in the assessment of wetland systems and ecosystem service provision. The project will provide scope for innovation in how these methods can be mainstreamed and delivered at lower cost.

You’ll develop extensive field and modelling skills putting you at the forefront of global catchment hydrology research, wetland and water management policy, and the science of nature-based solutions. You’ll develop field skills in establishing hydrometric monitoring systems such as groundwater and soil water assessment through boreholes, time-domain, and potentially geophysical methods; river flow measurement using traditional and remote sensing (e.g. drone) techniques; and precipitation measurement. You’ll also develop skills in collecting and analysing water tracer data, such as stable isotopes (²H and ¹⁸O) and geochemistry used to identify water sources and flow paths. You’ll use these data to develop novel tracer-aided hydrological models (e.g. based on Dynamic Topmodel) exploring different scenarios and scaling questions.

Globally there is now huge awareness of the risks of increased floods and droughts due to climate and land use change. This is driving new interest among policy makers, civil society and the private sector, in the role of landscapes in storing water, and how humans influence this through nature-based solutions. But there remain huge uncertainties in quantifying these links, which is stifling investment and action. This project will test new approaches to this challenge, support local practitioners in the planning and implementation of practical actions in upland wetland systems, and contribute to wider societal impact by contributing to a major UK-wide strategic investment in flood and drought research that will inform future government policy.

References

For more information on the Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure (FDRI): https://fdri.org.uk/

McDonnell, J.J., Beven, K., 2014. Debates—The future of hydrological sciences: A (common) path forward? A call to action aimed at understanding velocities, celerities and residence time distributions of the headwater hydrograph. Water Resources Research 50, 5342–5350. https://doi.org/10.1002/ 2013WR015141

Peskett, L.M., Heal, K.V., MacDonald, A.M., Black, A.R., McDonnell, J.J., 2023. Land cover influence on catchment scale subsurface water storage investigated by multiple methods: Implications for UK Natural Flood Management. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 47, 101398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2023.101398

Funding

This is a full scholarship which will cover tuition fees for Home students and provide an annual stipend in line with UKRI recommended levels (£19,795 in 2025-26) for the 44 months duration of the project.

International candidates may apply but if successful, will need to demonstrate that they (or their supervisory team) have co-funding to cover the difference between home and international fees to be eligible. The difference in fees varies by programme. The current difference for 2024/25 academic year is approximately £20,000 per year.

Supervisors

Dr Leo Peskett – Heriot Watt University

Ms Sarah Collins – British Geological Survey

Mr Nick Everard – UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Eligibility

This project is available to home and overseas students*. Applicants typically should have a first or upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject and preferably a relevant Masters’ qualification or similar experience.

Essential Skills:

• Field based skills
• Data analysis

An interest in learning modelling methods and ability to drive (for visiting remote fieldwork locations) are highly desirable for this project.

We recognise that not every talented researcher will have had the same opportunities to advance their careers. We therefore will account for any particular circumstances that applicants disclose (e.g. parental leave, caring duties, part-time jobs to support studies, disabilities etc.) to ensure an inclusive and fair recruitment process.

*Due to CDT funding rules and Institutional policies, there is a cap on the number of scholarships that can be awarded to international students. Once this limit has been reached, ECOWILD CDT scholarship will only be awarded to students who are eligible for Home fee status.

English Language Requirements

Overseas students must be able to provide proof of their ability in the English language.

We require an IELTS certificate showing an overall score of at least 6.5 with no component scoring less than 6.0, or a TOEFL certificate with an overall score of at least 85, including reading 20, listening 19, speaking 20 and writing 21. Alternatively, if you have received an English-taught Bachelors or Masters degree from one of the countries listed on the UK Government Guidance under ‘Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English’, and it was obtained less than two years from your intended start date, you should provide evidence of your award that clearly states it was delivered and assessed in English language.

How to Apply

For information on how to apply, please visit the ECOWILD website: https://ecowild.site.hw.ac.uk/how-to-apply/

For project specific enquiries, please contact l.peskett@hw.ac.uk

For general enquiries or technical support with your application, please contact ecowild@hw.ac.uk

Timelines

The closing date for applications is 5pm GMT Thursday 9th January, and applicants must be available to start in October 2025.