NERC Industrial CASE Award PhD studentship

Three-dimensional sediment structure and dynamics using novel microscopy techniques

Queen Mary University of London - School of Geography and School of Engineering and Materials Science, and HR Wallingford

This interdisciplinary project is a collaboration between the School of Geography and the School of Engineering and Materials Science at Queen Mary University of London. QMUL was ranked in the UK’s top 10 universities for research quality in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and the School of Geography, where the PhD student will be based, was ranked joint 11th in the UK overall.

Project outline

When transported in suspension mud, silt and organic sediments form flocs (or aggregates) that are compositionally complex, fragile and irregularly shaped. The fate and transport of suspended particulate matter (SPM), and associated pollutants and nutrients, is determined by the size, shape, density, porosity and stability of these flocs in fluvial, estuarine and coastal environments and prediction of SPM transport requires accurate measurements of these 3-dimensional physical parameters. However, current sediment transport models rely upon assumptions derived from limited 2-dimensional observation of either gross-scale or sub-micron features (using conventional optical and electron microscopy respectively), rather than whole floc three-dimensional internal structure.

We have developed novel protocols for the capture, stabilization and segregation of flocs (Bushby et al. 2011) and using volumetric FIB-SEM (focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy) have visualized 3D floc composition for the first time.

The over-arching aim of this PhD is to provide new knowledge of sediment floc structure and dynamics in aquatic environments which can inform sediment transport models. The research objectives are to; 1) develop protocols for the quantification of 3D floc characteristics, 2) determine whether 2D measurements of gross floc characteristics translate to the 3D micro-scale and 3) understand how floc structure and dynamics vary with changes to sediment composition and flow characteristics.

The Award

The project is funded by a NERC Industrial CASE award and partnered by HR Wallingford, an independent research and technology organisation whose core activities deliver practical solutions to water-related problems. The student will be based in the School of Geography and will be expected to spend at least 4 months at HRW learning about cohesive sediment transport and modelling approaches. The studentship comprises the full cost of fees, c. £15863 per year maintenance, a £1000 per year bursary from HRW and a Research Training Support Grant from the School of Geography to support laboratory work, conference attendance and other costs associated with their research. HRW will also provide up to £3500 to the student to cover costs associated with meetings and study visits at their offices in Wallingford.

Candidate Profile

The candidate should have;

• This is an interdisciplinary PhD and we welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. A first class or upper second class honours degree in e.g. Environmental/Earth Science, Geography, Environmental Engineering, Materials, Microscopy, Maths or a cognate numerate discipline.
• Knowledge of aquatic environments and physical sediment or hydrological processes (desirable) and electron microscopy techniques (desirable).
• Experience of practical work in the laboratory (essential).
• Strong quantitative and/or computational skills (essential).
• Ability to be self-motivated and well-organized, to deliver to deadlines and to respond to constructive criticism (essential).
• Willingness to take a full part in the QMUL postgraduate community, and the research activities in the School of Geography at QMUL (essential).
• An appropriate postgraduate qualification or experience would be desirable.

This studentship is open to suitably qualified candidates from the EU. If you are unsure about your eligibility please contact our Postgraduate Administrator Ayesha Sabri (geog-pgadmin<στο>qmul.ac.uk) before application.

Further details and application procedure

For further details about the project, the School of Geography and our application procedure please visit http://www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/admissions/phdadmissions/index.html. To discuss the project contact Dr Kate Spencer (k.spencer<στο>qmul.ac.uk). The closing date for applications is 5 pm April 24^th 2015.

AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award at the Centre for Studies of Home, a partnership between Queen Mary, University of London and The Geffrye Museum of the Home (www.studiesofhome.qmul.ac.uk)

New spiritualities and domestic life c.1855-1939

Applications are invited for this three-year AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award commencing on 1 October 2015. It is one of four CDAs at the Centre for Studies of Home on the research programme ‘Home and religion: space, practice and community in London from the seventeenth century to the present,’ all of which will start on 1 October 2015. The other three studentships are on ‘Religious life in the urban home, 1600-1800,’ ‘Judaism in the suburban home 1945-1975’ and ‘Interfaith connections at home: domestic space, practice and dialogue in contemporary London.’ The deadline for this studentship has been extended to Monday 13 April 2015.  

This PhD studentship will be supervised by Suzanne Hobson (English, QMUL) and Rhodri Hayward (History, QMUL), and Emma Hardy and Janice Welch (Geffrye Museum). It will examine the relationship between new forms of domestic space, spiritual practice and imaginary worlds for new religious movements from the mid-19^th century (including spiritualism, Theosophy, the Protestant Holiness Movement and Pentecostalism). The research will analyse archival sources alongside literary and historical texts and will contribute to the interpretation of the Geffrye’s late 19^th and early 20^th century galleries and the development of new learning resources.

The key research questions are:

• How was the home conceptualised in the literature of new religious movements?
• What was the relationship between the changing material culture of the home and new forms of religious practice? 
• How was the organisation and architecture of the home reflected in contemporary conceptualisations of alternate realities and the future life?  
• How were the boundaries between the sacred and the mundane negotiated within the space of the family home?

The awards pay fees and an annual maintenance grant. Further details about this studentship, the research programme ‘Home and religion: space, practice and community in London from the 17^thcentury to the present,’ and how to apply, are available here.

The closing date is 5pm Monday 13 April 2015. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 29 April.  

Please note that usual AHRC eligibility rules apply to these studentships.

For an informal discussion please contact Dr Suzanne Hobson (s.hobson<στο>qmul.ac.uk) or Dr Rhodri Hayward (r.hayward<στο>qmul.ac.uk). For more information on the ‘Home and Religion’ programme, please contact Professor Alison Blunt (a.blunt<στο>qmul.ac.uk).