Developing collaborative PhD opportunities

We are seeking to develop collaborative PhD projects aligned with the UK Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure (FDRI) project. FDRI PhD support includes access to infrastructure, training, placements, and expertise across the FDRI project and £5,000 towards PhD studentships. These initial PhD projects will take place while core monitoring infrastructure is being designed and installed, with many opportunities to partner with FDRI through innovative hydrological monitoring, novel digital infrastructure and working in our FDRI catchments in the Upper Tweed, Upper Severn and the Chess sub catchment (Thames basin).

For Project Investigators developing PhD proposals that would be advertised in Autumn 2025 and start in September 2026, please submit an application for FDRI PhD support. Please note that proposed projects must include input from someone affiliated with FDRI (this could be co-supervision or more general input and support). This year, we will be prioritising projects aligned to the digital (led by Matt Fry, UKCEH) and innovation (led by Wouter Buytaert, Imperial) work packages. More information and details can be found in the application form.

We also welcome applications and expressions of interest throughout the year. If you miss the deadline above for central FDRI PhD support but are interested in developing a collaborative FDRI PhD project or have a funded project that is closely aligned to FDRI and would like to collaborate, then please get in touch at fdri@ceh.ac.uk.

There are many exciting opportunities to undertake a PhD aligned with the Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure.

PhD opportunities for September 2026 will be released in Autumn 2025.

Previous PhD opportunities (deadline now passed) for September 2025 included:

1. Weathering vs. climate change: Quantifying recent silicate weathering using novel isotope tracers
   
   The project will develop and apply methodologies to assess if there are any long-term climate change-driven trends in water supply, storage, and routing, and how these changes are impacting weathering rates and rock-derived nutrient supply to ecosystems. The project will thus be utilising and developing cutting-edge scientific approaches to understand and predict carbon storage through silicate weathering. Dr Jotis Baronas (Durham University), Dr Jade Hatton (UK CEH), Dr Maud van Soest (UK CEH), Dr Julia Knapp (Durham University). 
    
2. Developing novel tracer-based methods to investigate how pressures on upland wetlands alter flood and drought resilience 
   
   The project will investigate how land use and climate change pressures on upland wetland and floodplain systems, alter their role in modulating floods and droughts. Dr Leo Peskett (Heriot Watt University), Ms Sarah Collins, (British Geological Survey), Mr Nick Everard (UK CEH).
    
3. A sub-hourly quality controlled blended UK precipitation dataset to understand uncertainty in flood predictions
   
   This PhD aims to explore optimal methods to provide blended high-resolution (15-min) UK precipitation datasets, developing bias-correction, disaggregation and quality control methods to preserve extreme rainfall statistics. This has been identified as a high impact and high priority action from the recent Environment Agency review of uncertainty for flood hydrology. Resulting precipitation datasets will significantly enhance understanding of rainfall dynamics, inform flood risk assessment, and support climate adaptation. Hayley Fowler (Newcastle University), Amy Green (Newcastle University), Matthew Fry (UK CEH), Sara Alexander (Environment Agency).
    
4. Unlocking Improved Flood Modelling using Computer Vision Stream Gauging
   
   This project will use new technologies in flow monitoring to characterise complex flows over floodplains. We will deploy Computer Vision Stream Gauging across a range of floodplains, leveraging NERC’s exciting new multi-million investment in Floods & Droughts Research Infrastructure (FDRI). Steve Darby (University of Southampton), Lee Pimble (Xylem), Julian Leyland (University of Southampton), Nick Everard (UK CEH).