Fully Funded EPSRC DTP PhD Scholarship: Upland Resilience to Multiple Hydrogeomorphic Hazards due to Extreme Rainfalls

Funding providers: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) DTP

Subject areas: Civil Engineering

Project start date: 1 January 2023 (Enrolment open from mid-December) *A later start date may be possible up to and including July 2023

Project description: 

Extreme rainfall in an upland river catchment can trigger multiple inter-related hydrogeomorphic hazards comprising of flash floods, debris flows and shallow landslides, each of which has caused widespread disruption and damage to lives and properties around the world. Climate change is likely to cause increasingly frequent, extreme precipitation events, which in-turn can trigger more flash floods, shallow landslides, and debris flows in the warmer and wetter future. However, significant challenges remain in modelling multiple hazardous responses to extreme rainfalls, such as limited modelling capacity and low computational efficiency.

The project aims to develop a state-of-the-art rapid holistic modelling framework for multiple hydrogeomorphic hazards triggered by extreme rainfalls in uplands. The physical mechanism operation and interaction underlying these extreme hazard processes will be investigated. Overall, this project aims to deliver a step-change in both scientific understanding of multi-hazard processes due to extreme rainfalls and operational capability for managing risk such hazards pose to life and property in a changing climate.

Eligibility

Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline.

Please note desirable skills include basic knowledge on hydrology, hydro-sediment-morphodynamics, geotechinicals, numerical modelling and willingness to conduct numerical modelling using Matlab, Python, Fortran, etc.

English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 5.5 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations .