PhD Research Opportunity: Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is offering a funded 45-month PhD research opportunity focused on evaluating mitigation measures for water quality improvement. The project, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Competitive Research Funding Programme, will investigate the effectiveness of “break the pathway” measures, such as riparian buffer zones and wetlands, in improving water quality within agricultural catchments.
PhD Research Opportunity: Monitoring and Evaluating Mitigation Approaches to Improve Water Quality
Designation:
PhD Researcher
Research Area:
Water Quality, Soil, Hydrology, Chemistry, Ecology, Agri-environment, Agricultural Catchments, Mitigation Approaches
Location:
ATU Galway City, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland
Eligibility/Qualification:
- A minimum of a 2:1 Honours Degree (or equivalent) in a cognate discipline such as Agroecology, Aquatic Ecology, Zoology, Biology, or Ecology.
- A valid, full, clean Irish/European Union driving license is required.
- The candidate should be able to work independently and be willing to develop additional skills for the successful completion of the PhD project.
Job Description:
The successful candidate will work under the guidance of an interdisciplinary supervisory team to:
- Assess the effectiveness of implemented break the pathway measures in reducing nutrient and sediment pollution.
- Use physico-chemical parameters and biological data (e.g., aquatic macrophytes, riparian vegetation, macroinvertebrates) to evaluate water quality improvements in adjacent water bodies during different flow conditions.
- Provide recommendations for the design and implementation of measures, with a focus on pollution critical source areas.
- Contribute to the identification, evaluation, and dissemination of effective mitigation approaches to enhance water quality in agricultural systems.
How to Apply:
Applicants should submit the following documents via email to ResearchOffice.galwaymayo@atu.ie (as a single Word or PDF file):
- Curriculum Vitae (including details of two referees)
- Transcript of academic results
- A Personal Statement (maximum one page) outlining:
- How your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this PhD research programme
- Why you are interested in pursuing this PhD
For further details, please contact Dr. Heather Lally (heather.lally@atu.ie) or Dr. Emma Gray (emma.gray@atu.ie).
Last Date for Application:
12 noon, Friday, 31st January 2025
Stipend and Funding:
- €25,000 per annum
- Postgraduate fees covered
- Travel and material costs covered as necessary
- Project duration: 45 months
- Project Start Date: March 2025
Data Protection Statement:
ATU adheres to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018 to protect the personal data of applicants. For more details, please refer to ATU’s Student Privacy Statement.
