Monitoring and managing the impacts of extreme sediment-rich flows in fluvial systems

Director of Studies:  Dr Matt Westoby  

2nd Supervisor:  Dr Sarah Boulton  

3rd Supervisor:  Professor Will Blake  

4th Supervisor: Professor Stuart Dunning, Newcastle University

Applications are invited for a 3.5 years PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 1 October 2025 

Extreme sediment-rich flows, triggered by natural or man-made dam outbursts, landslides, and wildfires, cause major disruptions in river systems. Due to climate change, the frequency and magnitude of these events are expected to rise, as many triggers are climate-sensitive. These flows mobilise vast amounts of sediment, generating post-event pulses involving a variety of grain sizes. These pulses are challenging to identify, monitor, and model, complicating hazard management. This is especially critical for the hydropower sector, which is rapidly expanding into unstable, high-mountain regions. 

Project aims: (1) to quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of sediment pulses triggered by extreme sediment-rich floods at catchment- to regional scales; (2) to explore how optimized decision-making in the hydropower sector can reduce the impacts of these events. To achieve aim (1), you will use Google Earth Engine to identify sediment pulses, analysing their timing, magnitude, and runout, while assessing the role of hydropower infrastructure in buffering or exacerbating pulse conveyance. Field-deployed turbidity sensors will calibrate and validate your observations, allowing you to apply methods at scale (e.g., mountain range fronts) and develop a new empirically informed, conceptual model of sediment-rich flow behaviours in such landscapes. In pursuit of aim (2), you will utilize open-source modelling tools with stochastic simulation functionality, like PySedSim, supported by data from your study catchment(s), to explore how hydropower sediment management strategies can be adapted to mitigate the impacts of sediment-rich flows while balancing the often-competing priorities of energy production, water quality, and hydro-geomorphic connectivity.  

We encourage applicants from geoscience backgrounds and also numerate degrees (mathematics, physics, computer science) with limited/no exposure to the environmental sciences. Experience with geospatial methods including familiarity with, or an aptitude to learn, common programming languages, is desirable. You will be encouraged to attend discipline-specific external training courses, and those which focus on improving technical competencies. You will align with the NERC-funded SUPERSLUG project and will work within a diverse international team including other early career researchers. Inclusive fieldwork will be centred on the Indian Himalaya in the first instance, with opportunity to attend conferences and undertake external engagement. 

Westoby et al. (2023) Rapid fluvial remobilization of sediments deposited by the 2021 Chamoli disaster, Indian Himalaya. Geology, v. 51(10). https://doi.org/10.1130/G51225.1

Shugar + 52 others, incl. Westoby, Dunning (2021) A massive rock and ice avalanche caused the 2021 disaster at Chamoli, Indian Himalaya. Science, v. 373. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abh4455

Jones, Boulton et al. (2021) 30-year record of Himalaya mass-wasting reveals landscape perturbations by extreme events. Nature Communications, v. 12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26964-8 

Boothroyd et al. (2021) Applications of Google Earth Engine in fluvial geomorphology for detecting river channel change. WIREs Water, v. 8. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1496 

Wild et al. (2021) An open source reservoir and sediment simulation framework for identifying and evaluating siting, design, and operation alternatives. Environmental Modelling & Software, v. 136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2020.104947 

Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree in an appropriate subject or a relevant Masters qualification. Also see Person Specification above. 

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent.  

Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded ARIES studentship of fees, maintenance stipend (£19,237 p.a. for 2024/25) and research costs.  

A limited number of ARIES studentships are available to International applicants. Please note however that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK. 

NB: The studentship is supported for 3.5 years of the four-year registration period. The subsequent 6 months of registration is a self-funded ‘writing-up’ period. 

ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, and transgender status. Projects have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive, and appropriate research and fieldwork environment. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, with equal weighting given to experience and potential. 

For further information, please visit www.aries-dtp.ac.uk.

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact  Dr Matt Westoby .

Please see our apply for a postgraduate research programme page for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application. 

For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our Apply for a postgraduate research programme page or contact the Doctoral College .

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview after the deadline. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications.  Applicants who have not received a response within six weeks of the closing date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.