Impact of climate change on integrity of engineered lighthouse structures

About the Project

The ocean is the world’s greatest carbon sink. The ongoing rise of atmospheric CO2 will impact ocean CO2 absorption, increasing its acidity. This has ramifications for healthy ecosystems and integrity of engineered structures. Our project would aim to determine potential impacts at General Lighthouse Authorities (GLA) of the UK and Ireland sites and test materials for sustained durability under projected ocean response scenarios. We would achieve this via the following objectives:

1. Review existing climate and ocean models to determine ocean chemistry evolution scenarios that will feed into the rest of the project. Projections would be tested with predictive modelling of GLA site collected water samples to determine likely local impacts at GLA sites.
2. Site and material characterization (including engineered materials and underlying rock formations) of GLA sites and determination of asset weathering / aging processes.
3. Perform lab experiments on GLA informed / supplied engineering materials by coupling traditional physics and geochemistry methods to novel X-ray computed tomography (XCT) for 4D imaging (3D + time) of samples under variable temperature and saturation (to simulate and accelerate weathering processes), saturating fluid compositions (using earlier-determined ocean water chemistry evolution scenarios), and variable pressure (to simulate fatigue in response to sea level fluctuation).
4. Explore alternative materials potentially better equipped to deal with future climate change scenarios and ocean conditions

The project would be supported by Strathclyde’s brand new £5M EPSRC IM3AGES facility, which hosts a unique environmental XCT cell that allows in situ imaging of the internal structure of materials and mapping of mineralogy and microstructures in 3D as they evolve through time. The high resolution, high speed XCT capabilities provide the latest AI enhanced imaging to test the degradation and decades-long performance of GLA engineering materials and coatings. Compositional evolution of experimental fluids will be determined using a linked suite of ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer) capabilities, providing advanced predictions of any potentially harmful environmental contaminants that may result from degradation of GLA materials.

The student will benefit from bespoke training across a suite of analytical techniques, many of which are pushing the boundaries between the disciplines of environmental science and engineering. This will take place in Strathclyde’s IM3AGES Facility and the Environmental Analytics Laboratory, where expert technical staff will support supervisors. In addition, the student will be enrolled in Strathclyde’s award-winning PGCert in Researcher Development program, giving them access to a wide range of training in technical (e.g. data analysis, scientific writing, experimental design) and transferable (e.g. public speaking, lab safety, project management) skills.

Supervisory team

The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr Neil Burnside https://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/burnsideneildr/ and Prof Katherine Dobson https://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/dobsonkatherinedr/. The successful candidate will be based full-time at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a highly motivated and curious individual with an interest in addressing critical challenges at the interface of climate change, ocean chemistry, and the durability of coastal engineering infrastructure. The successful candidate will be keen to integrate approaches from environmental science, geochemistry, experimental imaging and modelling to investigate how projected ocean conditions influence the long‑term performance of engineered materials and natural substrates. They will be a practical, self‑motivated researcher capable of shaping and driving their project with support from the supervisory team. Applicants should have a strong academic background in a relevant discipline, such as environmental, marine or earth sciences, civil, mechanical or environmental engineering, materials science, or chemistry. Applicants should have a first‑class or 2:1 honours degree with a relevant Master’s qualification (or equivalent). Experience with laboratory‑based methods, data analysis, material compositional characterisation, or numerical modelling would be advantageous. An interest in advanced imaging, data‑driven methods, or AI‑enhanced analysis would be welcomed but is not essential.

How to apply

Please complete the enquiry form to express your interest in this PhD project. For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Neil Burnside https://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/burnsideneildr/.

Funding Notes

This project is a fully funded 42-month PhD position supported by JARSS (EPSRC) and the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLA) of the UK and Ireland.

This PhD project will be hosted by the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Full funding for 3.5 years is available for home (UK) applicants only. International applicants are welcome to apply but will need to fill the funding gap themselves. The funding available will be in line with the UKRI doctoral stipend levels and indicative fees.