School of Geography
The most damaging environmental and economic impacts of agriculture occur ‘off-site’ in downstream aquatic ecosystems in association with elevated sediment and nutrient yields. Headwater wetlands are essential natural buffer zones that help preserve downstream water quality since they reduce connectivity between the land and downstream aquatic ecosystems. This project will involve field investigation of natural and re-instated headwater wetland function during storm events, using beryllium-7 as a novel sediment tracer. The sediment budgeting technique used will be validated through laboratory experiments to develop knowledge of beryllium-7 geochemistry. The project is part sponsored by Westcountry Rivers Trust who have a strong interest in headwater wetland restoration programmes in SW England.
Applications are invited from candidates with strong research interests in catchment processes and management who have, or are expecting to achieve, a masters degree in a relevant subject or a minimum 2:1 Honours degree in Geography, Environmental Science or a related discipline. The full-time PhD studentship will include fees at the ‘home/EU’ student rate and will cover maintenance (£12,940 in 2008/09) for 3 years. The studentships are open to all students, but the studentship is equal to the home/EU fee only and any non-EU applicant would have to fund the difference (currently £6,520 per year) themselves.
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Will Blake for further details: email wblake@plymouth.ac.uk, or phone +44 (0)1752 585969
To apply for the studentship, please fill in an application form available from http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pghowtoapply and submit the form and references to The University of Plymouth, Marketing and Admissions Office, Social Science and Business, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK.
The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 28th April 2008
