Establishing an Isotope Toolkit for Saline Groundwaters (IT4SG) – PhD Position University of Glasgow in United Kingdom

The University of Glasgow, in partnership with the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC), is offering a funded PhD position focused on developing an isotope toolkit for saline groundwaters (IT4SG). This project is directly linked to the UK's ongoing efforts to locate an underground Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for nuclear waste, with all candidate sites containing saline aquifers. Understanding the age, origin, mixing, and interaction histories of these groundwater components is essential for building robust hydrogeological models and evaluating the long-term retention of radionuclides and contaminants.

The PhD student will employ a range of chemical and isotopic techniques to characterize the source and determine the age of saline groundwaters from onshore sites near the planned UK nuclear waste repository. The research will involve groundwater chemistry, O-H isotopes, and the development of methods for stable chlorine isotopes (37Cl/35Cl) and the short-lived radionuclide 36Cl. Laboratory work will be conducted at SUERC, with opportunities for field sampling campaigns and experience at other European laboratories.

Supervision will be provided by Professor Finlay Stuart, alongside groundwater specialist David Banks and a senior advisor from Nuclear Waste Services. The student will be enrolled in the University of Glasgow College of Science and Engineering Graduate School, benefiting from a comprehensive development programme and industry engagement through training and placements.

Funding is provided by the NWS studentship, covering four years of tuition fees (UK home level), a tax-free stipend at the standard UKRI rate for 2025/2026, research costs, and conference expenses. Exceptional international candidates may be eligible for a fee waiver. The expected start date is September 2026.

Applicants should hold, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 Honours degree or a Masters (or international equivalent) in a relevant science such as chemistry, Earth/environmental science, or physics, with a strong quantitative background. Laboratory experience in environmental or analytical chemistry is advantageous.

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Prof. Fin Stuart ([email protected]) for informal enquiries before applying. Applications should be submitted via the University of Glasgow Graduate School portal by May 18, 2026. For detailed application instructions, visit the provided link.