Flood-driven habitat change and the spread of aquatic invasive species

About the Project

Project Overview:

This PhD explores how floods reshape river habitats and drive the spread of invasive species. Using hydrological modelling, experimental ecology and individual-based modelling, the project links flood dynamics with invasion pathways in UK and South African rivers, generating evidence to inform climate-resilient flood and invasive species management.

Project Description:

Flooding is one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time, reshaping landscapes and communities while also creating opportunities for invasive species to spread. Invasive non-native species, such as signal crayfish, are already a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem health, yet we still know little about how changing flood regimes influence their establishment and impact. Understanding these links is critical for building resilient rivers under climate change.

This PhD project will investigate how floods alter river habitats and how invasive species exploit these changes. Working across contrasting systems in the UK and South Africa, you will explore questions such as: Do floods create refuges that invaders can occupy? How do barriers and flow regulation interact with floods to accelerate invasions? Can targeted changes to flow or barrier management reduce invasion risk?

To address these questions, you will combine several approaches: hydrodynamic and sediment transport modelling to simulate flood events; fieldwork in UK rivers to test model predictions; and experimental ecology using flume facilities to track how invasive species respond to pulsed floods. These results will feed into individual-based models, linking animal behaviour with flood-driven habitat dynamics.

Your findings will help identify practical management options that balance flood protection with biodiversity conservation, providing evidence directly relevant to river managers and conservation agencies. You will be embedded in Dr Dominguez Almela’s lab group (University of Southampton), broaden your expertise through engagement with Dr South’s lab group (University of Leeds), and collaborate closely with partners including Natural England and South African National Parks, gaining both international and interdisciplinary research experience.

We are looking for:

The successful candidate should be willing to conduct fieldwork, including international campaigns in Kruger National Park (South Africa) and surveys in UK rivers. An interest in working with live aquatic organisms in both field and flume-based experimental settings is essential, including careful handling and consideration of animal welfare. The project also requires strong motivation to engage with interdisciplinary research that spans ecology, hydrology, modelling and practitioner engagement. All technical training in hydrodynamic modelling, individual-based modelling and advanced data analysis will be facilitated by the supervisory team.

This project will be located at: University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre

Entry Requirements:

Applicants must already have, or expect to shortly graduate with, an undergraduate degree or Master’s degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree) in a relevant subject.

Please note: Due to funding limitations, this opportunity is only available for applicants that qualify for home fees/ UK nationals

How to apply:

All applications should be submitted by 11:59pm on Sunday 24th May 2026.

Applications should include:

• CV/ résumé giving details of your academic record, any relevant work history and stating your research interests.
• Name two current academic referees together with their institutional email addresses in the Reference section of the application form.
• Your academic transcript and degree certificate (translated if not in English) - if you have completed both a BSc & an MSc, we require both.
• Include a short statement of your research interests in flooding, motivation for applying to FLOOD-CDT and rationale for your choice of project(s), in the Personal Statement section of the application form.

Please ensure that you provide all required documentation and information so that your application can be reviewed and processed.

Please upload all documents in PDF format. You are encouraged to contact potential supervisors by email to discuss project-specific aspects of the proposed prior to submitting your application.

Please enter the project title and lead supervisor’s name in Section 2 to state which project you would like to apply for.

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For further information on our application guidance, as well as personal statement and interview guidance, please see our website.

Funding Notes

The Centre for Doctoral Training for Resilient Flood Futures (FLOOD-CDT) funds PhD researchers for 3.5 years, full- or part-time. A FLOOD-CDT studentship includes a tax-free stipend at the UKRI standard rate (£21,805 for the academic year 2026/27). Funding covers home tuition fees. Additionally, FLOOD-CDT provides a Research Training Support Grant of £8000 across the lifetime of the PhD, to be used on small project costs, conference attendance and individual training needs.