PhD Studentship: Drone-based Mapping to Improve Monitoring and Understanding of Headwater and Intermittent Streams (HInterMap) University of Birmingham in United Kingdom

[Funding covers annual stipend, tuition fees (at home-fee level), and Research Training Support Grant. International students eligible for up to 30% of cohort; funding does not cover relocation or living costs.]

This PhD studentship at the University of Birmingham offers an exciting opportunity to advance the monitoring and understanding of headwater and intermittent streams using drone-based mapping technologies. Intermittent streams and headwaters represent a significant portion of global river systems, yet they are poorly monitored and lack comprehensive data. These systems are crucial for hydrology, river ecology, and water quality, especially as they undergo changes such as drying, which impacts habitat connectivity and ecological refugia during droughts.

The project will leverage Unpiloted Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, to capture high-resolution data on river habitats, providing faster and more detailed updates than traditional monitoring techniques. The research will focus on mapping the evolution of river habitats and connectivity as streams dry out, with implications for understanding hydrological processes, ecological dynamics, and water quality (e.g., the role of pools in algae blooms). The techniques developed may also be applicable to other water-dependent systems such as wetlands and could complement ongoing research in UAV-based water quality surveys for larger rivers.

Beyond aquatic environments, the project will explore links to terrestrial UAV applications, including biodiversity monitoring. Students will have the opportunity to investigate thermal regimes in contrasting river typologies, groundwater-fed systems, and the mapping of thermal refugia and longitudinal temperature changes. The successful candidate will be registered at the University of Birmingham but based at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, benefiting from a collaborative research environment and access to state-of-the-art facilities.

Funding for this studentship is provided through the CENTA3 DLA, supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The package includes an annual stipend, tuition fees at the home-fee level, and a Research Training Support Grant. International students are eligible for up to 30% of the cohort, though funding does not cover relocation or living costs. Applicants must hold at least a 2:1 at UK BSc level or a pass at UK MSc level or equivalent, and international candidates must meet the University of Birmingham’s entry requirements, including English language proficiency.

Application is via the CENTA website, and candidates are encouraged to review all eligibility criteria and funding details before applying. The deadline for applications is January 7, 2027. For further information, applicants can consult the CENTA and University of Birmingham websites, as well as relevant academic references provided in the position description.