PhD Studentship
From Source to Sea: Monitoring and Modelling Contaminant Pathways and Mitigation Strategies for a Cleaner Water Environment in Scotland
Supervisors:
Dr Lydia Niemi / Prof. Stuart Gibb / Dr Szabolcs Pap
About the Project
Host Institution: Environmental Research Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands
Location: Thurso, UK
Funding: Fully-funded studentship with support for fees and RTSG
Deadline for application: 31st July 2026
Start Date: October 2026
Project Overview
The discharge of organic contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and PFAS “forever chemicals” from urban and rural areas into the water environment can result in a wide range of impacts for aquatic life and human health. Wastewater treatment plants are unable to fully remove organic pollutants from wastewater before it is discharged into receiving surface water. In the UK, the water sector now faces mounting pressures to deliver environmental sustainability targets, reduce costs, and comply with evolving regulations for contaminants removal, including through the revised EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and Environmental Quality Standards Directive. This legislation designates priority substance status to several pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and PFAS for monitoring and mitigation measures in wastewaters and surface waters. However, knowledge gaps exist on the presence, transport, and effects of these contaminants in the water environment, and particularly the connectivity between freshwater and marine environments.
This project will investigate the sources, occurrence, and potential risks of contaminants of regulatory concern in aquatic environments in Scotland. It will undertake environmental monitoring and modelling to improve understanding of contaminant pathways from source to sea. The studentship will work with an interdisciplinary team and stakeholders from two newly funded UKRI research programmes to identify potential mitigation strategies for high-risk contaminants.
The research will focus on:
Prioritisation of contaminants most likely to accumulate in Scottish freshwaters and coastal environments (e.g., pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and PFAS) using Scottish Environmental Protection Agency resources and EU regulatory frameworks.
Development of standardised methods for contaminants analysis using analytical techniques (e.g., solid phase extraction, high performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry).
Fieldwork to apply analytical methods and monitor contaminants in a target catchment encompassing freshwater and coastal environments to determine distribution across environmental compartments (e.g., water, sediment, biota).
Application of environmental models to assess contaminant pathways, fate, and potential risks based on physico-chemical properties, environmental factors, predicted no-effect concentrations, and contaminant exposure.
Engagement with interdisciplinary research programmes and stakeholder representatives to assess potential mitigation and intervention strategies.
Why This Matters
Pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and other organic contaminants are increasingly detected in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, yet major knowledge gaps remain about how they move through Scottish aquatic environments and potentially affect ecosystem and human health. This interdisciplinary PhD will generate new evidence on contaminant sources and pathways from source to sea, and work with two UKRI research programmes to support policy, regulation, and practical solutions to protect water quality, biodiversity, food security, and public health.
Please get in touch with Lydia Niemi (lydia.niemi@uhi.ac.uk) with informal enquiries.
Candidate Profile
We seek a highly motivated candidate with:
Applicants must have obtained a First class UK honours degree, or a combination of a 2.1 bachelor's honours degree and a master's degree awarded with Merit (or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK), in Chemistry, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline.
Strong interest in environmental pollution, chemicals analysis, contaminant risk modelling, and water quality.
Experience in laboratory and chemicals analysis (desirable).
What We Offer
Access to state-of-the-art facilities and pilot-scale testing platforms.
Collaboration with industry partners and opportunities for knowledge exchange.
Training in advanced analytical techniques and innovation pathways.
How to Apply
Submit the following documents to Lydia.Niemi@uhi.ac.uk.
Final Transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications
CV
Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research and why you want to undertake postgraduate research at UHI, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed.
Contact details for two referees (please make sure that the contact email you provide is an official university/work email address as we may need to verify the reference)
English Language certificate (if applicable)