PhD Studentship – Uranium Speciation and Mobility in Organic-Rich Wetlands under Environmental Perturbations
The University of Manchester
Manchester, England, United Kingdom
General Description –
The University of Manchester’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences invites applications for a funded PhD studentship that investigates the biogeochemical behaviour of uranium in organic-rich wetland environments subject to environmental change. The doctoral research will focus on mechanistic understanding of how fluctuating hydrological and geochemical conditions influence uranium speciation, redox transformation between U(IV) and U(VI), and mobility in coastal wetland systems. The project combines field observations with controlled laboratory experiments to examine the role of organic matter, redox dynamics and the formation and stability of uranium-bearing colloids under perturbations such as saline intrusion, drought–flood cycles, and redox shifts. Applicants will gain multidisciplinary expertise in environmental geochemistry, mineralogy, colloid science and uranium biogeochemistry, employing advanced analytical techniques including X-ray absorption and luminescence spectroscopy, electron microscopy and reactive transport modelling to support experimental and field data. This studentship offers integrated training in analytical, laboratory and field methods alongside quantitative data analysis within a research team addressing environmental contaminant behaviour in a changing climate.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should hold, or be expected to achieve, at least a 2:1 honours degree or equivalent in Environmental Science, Environmental Geochemistry, Earth Sciences, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
Relevant laboratory and/or field experience is desirable.
Required expertise/skills
Strong foundational knowledge in environmental geochemistry and contaminant behaviour.
Experience or familiarity with wet chemistry and solid-phase analytical techniques such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRF, XRD or SEM is advantageous.
Competence in quantitative analysis and a willingness to engage with multidisciplinary field and laboratory research methods.
A valid driving licence is desirable due to field-based research components.
Salary details –
The studentship includes an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26, subject to annual uplift). Tuition fees will be paid for home students, and fee waivers may be available for international applicants.
Application Deadline –
The closing date for applications is 26 August 2026.