MPhil/PhD Studentship in Assessing the impact of different peatland restoration techniques on a range of ecosystem services

Investing in excellence: studentship opportunities

The University of Derby has an opportunity for a full-time postgraduate research studentship in Zero Carbon area of research in the College of Science and Engineering (SE).

The successful applicant will receive a maintenance stipend (based on the minimum stipend defined by UKRI, currently £19,237 for the academic year 2024/25) and home MPhil/PhD tuition fees (£4,786 - subject to amendment) only up to the target submission date.

Please note: if your application is successful and you are assessed as international for fees purposes, you will need to pay the difference between the home fees and the international fees.

The intended intake period is January 2025, or the next available intake.

The successful applicant will be expected to complete their MPhil/PhD within 3 years on the MPhil/PhD route, contribute to the College REF submission and get involved in the wider research activities of the College.

Applicants will become part of a friendly and welcoming team and will be supported and managed by their supervisors.

The vacancy details are as follows:

Purpose/objectives 

To assess how different peatland restoration interventions impact ecosystem services including water quality, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and flood limitation.

Project description

Peatlands are unique ecosystems which provide a range of services, including carbon storage, hydrological functions, and biodiversity (Whitfield et al., 2011). However, many peatlands in the UK are degraded due to pollution, erosion, overgrazing, drainage, and fires (Artz et al., 2019). Many organisations, including Moors for the Future, are working to restore peatlands to a more natural state. This process can involve a range of different interventions, such as blocking ditches and gullies, planting peatland species such as Sphagnum moss, and creating bunds to hold water on the surface. The relative effectiveness of these differing interventions is the focus of this study.

The project focuses on the Combs Moss peatland site near Buxton, where there are four mini-catchments with different restoration measures. (Moors for the Future, 2024) Each mini-catchment is instrumented with carbon flux monitoring collars, dipwells and flow meters to measure hydrological changes, and plots to assess changes in biodiversity. Baseline data collection began in 2022, and restoration interventions were installed in early 2024. The project will run as a partnership between the University of Derby, Moors for the Future, and Severn Trent Water.

Potential project impact 

This project will contribute to research under the Zero Carbon theme at the Univeristy of Derby, and will achieve impact through informing future restoration methods within and beyond Moors for the Future. A greater understanding of the benefits and trade-offs between different restoration methods has the potential to improve the effectiveness of peatland restoration in the UK and internationally.

Principal accountabilities and responsibilities

The student will collect data at the site, with a key responsibility being carbon dioxide and methane flux measurements each month. The student will also analyse the data collected, and publish papers from their results; potential paper topics include:

• Differences in carbon dioxide and methane emission changes with a range of peatland restoration techniques
• Impacts of different peatland restoration techniques on flood hydrographs
• Impacts of Sphagnum planting on peatland habitat condition, hydrology, and carbon

The student will also have the opportunity to expand the project in line with their own research interests. This could include using satellite or UAV data, bioacoustics, or soil microbial analysis.

Artz R., Evans C., Crosher I., Hancock M., Scott-Campbell M., et al. (2019) The State of UK Peatlands: an update. IUCN UK. Available online: https://www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/COI%20State_of_UK_Peatlands.pdf [Last accessed: 03/09/2024]

Moors for the Future (2024) Moor Green Investment - Combs Moss. Aailable online: https://www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk/our-work/our-projects/moor-green-investment [Last Accessed: 03/09/2024]

Whitfield S., Reed M., Thomson K., Christie M., Stringer L. C., Quinn C. H., … Hubacek K. (2011) Managing Peatland Ecosystem Services: Current UK Policy and Future Challenges in a Changing World. Scottish Geographical Journal, 127(3), 209–230. https://doi.org/10.1080/14702541.2011.616864

To apply

Please review our entry requirements before submitting your application and check out the 'Getting Started' section below.

Completed applications should be submitted via our online application system quoting funding reference: EXT_S&E_Peatland_2425

Apply online

Closing dates for applications: Midday, Wednesday 6 November 2024.

(Please note: we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close before 6 November 2024 if a high volume of applications is received.)

Interviews: 25 November to 6 December 2024.

If you have not been invited for an interview by the interview date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

For other enquiries which are subject-specific please contact:

Dr Kirsten Lees - k.lees@derby.ac.uk

Dr David Elliott - d.r.elliott@derby.ac.uk

Find out more about our research degrees.

Getting started

Before you begin your application, make sure you have:

Studentship funding reference code

This is provided on the individual studentship advert and must be specified in your application. 

Personal statement

A 500-word personal statement outlining your suitability for the studentship project. This is a mandatory requirement and you must upload it into your application. You should include your reasons for applying for the studentship, your experience in the field, how you feel you would benefit from studying and relevant information about your previous studies.

Your CV

A CV outlining your academic and professional experience.

Qualifications

Your qualification details including grades and dates taken. You will have the opportunity to upload scanned copies of your qualification certificates and transcripts in the application. If you have no formal qualifications, you can also state this in your application.

Passport/birth certificate

A scanned copy of your passport or full birth certificate. This will help us verify your application to study with us. International applicants can provide a copy of their passport only for visa assessment purposes, and their current visa if residing within the UK.

Academic references

Two signed academic references. This is optional at application stage but highly encouraged. If successful in your application, two academic references will be a mandatory requirement of admission. The references should be in written format, signed and dated from either a supervisor or tutor from your most recent studies.