Pollution dynamics of streams and soils in rural-urban catchments: improving environmental health and climate resilience in Emmbrook Park and Woosehill Meadows

GRASSINEAU_R25ARIES

Pollution dynamics of streams and soils in rural-urban catchments: improving environmental health and climate resilience in Emmbrook Park and Woosehill Meadows

GRASSINEAU_R25ARIES

Project Description

Supervisors

Dr Nathalie Grassineau, Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London – contact me

Dr Jonathan Paul, RHUL – Earth Sciences

Professor Juergen Adam, RHUL – Earth Sciences

 

Scientific background

Rivers and streams in rural-urban areas face complex pollution and nutrient issues due to varying inputs and environmental changes. Urban park riparian zones offer a chance to improve water quality and aquatic life. Detailed knowledge of pollution and nutrient flows is needed to develop effective mitigation strategies.

The study will focus on the Emmbrook River as it flows through the Emmbrook Park and Woosehill Meadows in East Berkshire. The goal is to assess how green spaces can improve water quality and climate resilience through infrastructure and natural interventions.

Research methodology

Soils and vegetation will be collected and analysed at different times of year to assess the influence of weather and seasonality on heavy metal concentrations.  Water samples will be also collected for microplastic and nutrient (phosphate, nitrate and ammonia) analysis. The contaminants will be used to determine bioavailability by evaluating runoff, and bio-accessibility by analysing the vegetation. The spread of contaminants will be mapped, and mitigation plans defined, building a conceptual model to assess human health risk and impacts on receptors (fauna and flora).

In addition, you will deploy multi-sensor drone surveys, aquatic surveys using ROV’s, water quality sampling (aquifer and river), hydrological tracer tests (using fluorescein dye) and analytical + numerical modelling to simulate the movement of pollutants in the natural environment.

Training

You will receive training in drone and ROV piloting at the unique RHUL Omnidrome facility, in addition to survey planning, multi-sensor data acquisition and data analysis and near-surface geophysical and hydrological survey setup and execution. You will also be trained in laboratory analyses of soil, vegetation and water samples, and micro-plastic extraction and hydrogeological modelling (e.g. using Modflow).

Person specification

We seek an enthusiastic individual who is committed to addressing issues of climate change and pollution mitigation at a local scale. Fieldwork experience, particularly involving liaising with different stakeholders, is beneficial but not essential. Similarly, prior experience with any form of remote sensing using UAV’s, geophysical or hydrological surveying is desirable.

Acceptable first degree subjects: Geology, Earth Sciences, Environmental Geosciences, or Physical Geography

References

  • Grassineau, N.V, Eldridge, L.O.V., Rossouw, S. (2024) The course of microplastics before and after UK WWTPs and their release into the environment. EGU conference, Vienna; EGU2024-19529.
  • Pudifoot, B., Cardenas, M.L., Buytaert, W., Paul, J.D., Narraway, C.L., Loiselle, S. (2021). When it rains, it pours: Integrating citizen science methods to understand resilience of urban green spaces. Frontiers in Water, 3, 654493
  • Waddell, M., Grassineau, N.V, Brakeley, J., Clemitshaw, K. 2020. Microplastics in a UK Landfill: Developing Methods and Assessing Concentrations in Leachate, Hydrogeology, and Release to the Environment. EGU conference, Vienna; EGU2020-21579
  • aul J.D., Buytaert, W., Allen, S., Ballesteros-Canovas, J.A., Bhusal, J., Cieslik, K., Clark, J., Dugar, S., Hannah, D.M., Stoffel, M., Dewulf, A., Dhital, M.R., Liu, W., Nayaval, J.L., Neupane, B., Schiller, A., Smith, P.J., Supper, R. (2018). Citizen science for hydrological risk reduction and resilience building. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water, 5, e1262

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2025. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 8th January 2025.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£19,237 p.a. for 2024/25) and research funding. A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note however that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
  • ARIES postgradute researcher (PGRs) benefit from bespoke graduate training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis. International applicants should check whether there are any conditions of visa or imigration permission that preclude part-time study. All advertised project proposals have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive, and appropriate research and fieldwork environment with respect to protected characteristics. If you have any concerns please contact us.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential, and will be stored on the UEA sharepoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships, and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be ask to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • If funded under the BBSRC-NERC DLA scheme, ARIES studentships will be subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. See https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information

Apply Now

Apply now via the  RHUL Application Portal