PhD Study : Unmanaged realignments – success and co-benefits of coastal wetland restoration through accidentally breached sea defences.

Summary

Flood protection of coastal populations around the UK, Ireland and globally is a major concern when considering the projected climate-change induced increase of global sea levels. Traditional coastal protection solutions (dikes, levees, seawalls) are widely implemented to prevent coastal flooding. However, with increasing water levels, costs for building and maintaining this infrastructure become less affordable, and there is an increasing recognition that nature-based solutions, such as managed realignment, may be more sustainable and flexible than the traditional hard-engineering. But as with hard-engineering, the planning and implementation of managed realignments is often expensive and time-consuming, and investment is usually restricted to projects with high economic benefit-cost ratios.

This leaves significant parts of the UK and Ireland at increased risk of levee breaching and coastal flooding during storm events.
An emerging coastal management strategy is to leave these flooded areas under the influence of the tide to allow for the restoration of coastal ecosystems, and to restore their ecosystem services which include the provisioning of valuable coastal habitat, the buffering of hydrodynamic energy during storms, and their capacity to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. However, for these so-called Unmanaged Realignments (uMRs), there is currently very little scientific evidence on the morphological and ecological evolution and the ecosystem service delivery of these new intertidal areas; a knowledge gap that this project will address.

Namely, the project will analyse the morphological and ecological evolution of UMR across Great Britain and Ireland and conduct an in-depth bio-physical and geo-chemical analysis of a subset of sites to analyse environmental success parameters that facilitate the development of ecologically valuable eocystems that efficiently provide the desired ecosystems services.

As such, this project is designed to inform long-term coastal management strategies in Great Britain and Ireland, taking consideration of projected climate-change induced increases in coastal flood risks.

We do not require a project proposal submitted with this application.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
• A demonstrable interest in the research area associated with the studentship

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Publications record appropriate to career stage
• Experience of presentation of research findings
• Use of personal initiative as evidenced by record of work above that normally expected at career stage.

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,237 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living