Beyond flood resilience: Transforming the multiple benefits of green infrastructure water systems

The University of Strathclyde offers a PhD opportunity focusing on sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and stormwater management. The role involves examining contaminant concentrations in SuDS, developing guidance for their multi-functional use, and includes a 3-month industry placement with a local civil engineering firm. Candidates will gain skills in environmental sciences and stakeholder engagement within a supportive research environment.
This PhD presents an exciting opportunity to explore how stormwater can be used as a valuable water resource. You will join a dynamic and friendly team of PhD students and researchers, working to innovate new knowledge and approaches for sustainable and climate resilient systems. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity spend time on placement with a local industry partner, gaining real-world experience and skills.

Background:

Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are a form of green infrastructure that reduce flood risk by providing nature inspired areas for stormwater (urban run-off) to drain more naturally, frequently into natural or constructed water bodies. However, SuDS water can contain a range of pollutants. This is a concern as SuDS water bodies have significant potential for multiple use, providing both flood and environmental protection, as well as public amenity (green space and recreational use), and can act as a potential water resource to alleviate water shortages. It is important then that we are able to implement SuDS systems in a way which protects human and environmental health while supporting their multi-functional usage. In this PhD you will examine contaminant concentrations in a diverse range of SuDS water systems. These will be assessed against water quality requirements or recommendations for different usages, developing a risk matrix to support multi-functional use. This will not only enable development of impactful guidance, but also enable you to explore new designs which can enhance multi-functional opportunities.

Training and support:

During this PhD you will gain valuable skills and knowledge across environmental sciences, including environmental chemistry and microbiology skills for the assessment of contaminants, developing both your understanding and laboratory expertise in these fields. You will utilize our department’s state-of-the-art £6M civil and environmental engineering research laboratories, which houses a wide range of innovative analytical and testing equipment. You will also develop key skills in engaging with different stakeholders (such as industry, regulators, public), enabling you to apply your findings to develop guidance and real-world solutions.

Industry placement:

This PhD will provide you with valuable real-world experience through an industry placement with civil engineering firm Civic (https://www.team-civic.com/) who have an office a short walk from the Strathclyde campus. Total placement duration over the PhD with be 3 months. In addition to gaining insights from real green infrastructure projects, you will also gain valuable training and experience in stakeholder engagement and co-production, engaging with communities and industry, and acquiring experience to boost your employability.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, is a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment known for its friendly and supportive research culture. You will join a welcoming cohort of fellow PhD students in our department. Our supportive culture is reflected in our award of Athena Swan Gold Status (one of only a few engineering units in the UK to hold this award), recognizing our work on gender equality and supporting all staff and students.

Professional and personal development is an important part of the postgraduate researcher journey here at Strathclyde. During the PhD you will gain invaluable additional training and development through our PGCert in Researcher Professional Development, developing skills to help you meet your future career aspirations.

The PhD would suit someone from a wide range of backgrounds, including but not limited to: environmental sciences, chemistry, biological sciences, civil engineering, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, earth sciences.

This PhD is supervised by Prof Vernon Phoenix. For more information or if interested in applying, please contact vernon.phoenix@strath.ac.uk