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PhD: Reservoir Carbon Dynamics and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Project 2642 · University of Leeds · School of Geography

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Country or region
United Kingdom
Application deadline
2027-01-12 (confirm the exact time with the source)
Funding
YES-DTN competition: generally 3.5 years of UKRI-rate stipend, university fees and research, fieldwork, training and conference support. Up to 30% of full awards across the network may go to international candidates; 2027/28 award details require confirmation.

The research opportunity

Inland waters such as drinking water reservoirs are hotspots of organic matter processing and turnover, leading to GHG emissions (e.g. CO2, CH4, N2O). Emissions occur from lake surfaces due to processes of gas diffusion and ebullition, as well as from water movements through turbines/valves into downstream river systems. Emissions are known to vary due to a range of variables such as lake surface area, age, weather & climate, and trophic status (e.g. Bastviken & Johnson, 2025; Yang et al., 2026) but datasets are typically collected from short-duration sampling efforts and tend to show high spatial biases at scales including global distribution, national-scale inventories, and even sampling locations on individual lakes. This is despite countries being obliged to estimate and report emissions from reservoirs and flooded land surfaces since a 2019 refinement of the IPCC greenhouse gas inventories (IPCC 2019).

To overcome data availability limitations, machine learning and remote sensing methods (e.g. Seth et al 2026) are increasingly being developed to identify geographic hotspots and their drivers, and to determine the dynamics of emissions over daily-seasonal-annual scales. However, direct measurements are still considered to be the ‘gold-standard’ when data are needed to quantify reservoir emissions needed to ground-truth these models. Datasets being used to develop models are often absent from many regions requiring extrapolation to understudies areas, whilst satellite-based estimates also lack widespread ground-truthing. A major issue with sampling large lakes and reservoirs is ensuring safe access. Sampling typically requires a boat with at least two people on board, which takes significant personnel time and requires boat handling skills, each of which adds significant cost to project budgets. As a result, many current datasets of reservoir gas concentrations are based on sampling restricted to ‘shoreline’ locations. A key control on aquatic greenhouse gas emissions is water temperature (Yvon-Durcoher et al., 2017). As a consequence, ongoing climate change is expected to lead to significant increases in the magnitude of global GHG emissions (Bastviken & Johnson, 2025). Recent studies have also highlighted the contribution of microbes to GHG emissions in inland waters including reservoirs, where microbial communities process aquatic organic matter into CO2, CH4 and N2O (Ghiazza et al 2026, Wang et al 2025). Furthermore, the global boom in dam construction continues apace (Zhang & Gu, 2023), driven in part by a need for cleaner electricity from hydropower reservoirs. Many of these new dams are being built in tropical and sub-tropical regions (Chong et al., 2021) where knowledge of GHG emissions is relatively scarce. The combined effects of climate warming, reservoir expansion and emerging evidence for microbial regulation of GHG production highlight the need for better understanding of reservoir carbon dynamics, while the limitations of existing sampling methods call for novel, innovative solutions to address these challenges.

Aim and methods

This project aims to use new methods to collect, analyse and interpret greenhouse gas emissions in relation to physical, chemical and biological drivers in understudied reservoir systems. The project offers opportunities to work in areas such as the UK where large numbers of 100-150yrs+ drinking water reservoirs are located in upland areas around Leeds. Additionally, the studentship could aim to improve understanding of tropical and sub-tropical hydroelectricity reservoirs, utilising linkages with collaborators in countries such as Nepal via ongoing projects at Leeds (e.g. water.leeds.ac.uk/hi-rise). The Leeds team has recently developed a bespoke remote-controlled sampling boat which allows us to collect surface water and gas samples from previously un-sampled areas of reservoirs. The student will be trained to use this vessel to develop enhanced spatial datasets and push forward general understanding of aquatic GHG emissions by collecting more accurate data on GHG emissions and carbon turnover in reservoirs. The student will also have opportunities to develop the boat system electronics to carry portable sensors including floating chambers that contain CH4 and CO2 sensors, or to add additional sampling capabilities such as winches for depth specific samples.

As part of the River Basin Processes & Management group in the School of Geography, and the wider water@leeds network, you will be trained to collect and analyse a range of samples to provide an integrated, ecosystem level approach to better understand reservoir dynamics:

  • Water chemistry (DOC, DON etc)
  • Dissolved gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O, use alongside temperature, pressure, wind speed to determine potential emissions from water surface)
  • Characterise the DOM molecular level (what forms of carbon are in the reservoir, provide information on potential DBPs for water companies)
  • Collect water, extract eDNA to characterise the bacteria and/or fungi population (metabolism, decomposition, processing C, producing CH4 and N2O)
  • Measure direct CO2 and CH4 emissions using a floating GHG logger
  • Catchment characteristics – relate in-reservoir processes to catchment land uses (target reservoirs with highly agricultural inputs vs highly peaty inputs)

Training and impact

You will receive training in data analysis including statistics and modelling which will allow you to generate publications that improve scientific understanding of spatial and temporal GHG emissions from reservoirs, and their physical, chemical and biological controls. This work will allow you to assess the accuracy of modelled datasets such as G-RES (www.grestool.org/) and earth observation approaches such as Open Hydro (openhydro.net/). Opportunities are expected to arise to work with reservoir operators to develop/inform new management strategies. We expect that the new results will be of interests to groups that are compiling national and global models of GHG emissions from surface waters, and into water companies carbon accounting, and there will be opportunities to connect with these groups via workshops and conference presentations.

References

Bastviken, D., Johnson, M.S. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-025-00532-6Chong, Xin Yi, et al. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972103758X Ghiazza C, et al. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1824828/full IPCC (2019). 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Volume 4 (AFOLU), Chapter 7: Wetlands. IPCC, SwitzerlandSeth et al. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032126001589 Wang et al 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.120892.Yang, Y. et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72269-zYvon-Durocher, et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate3229Zhang, A.T., Gu, V.X. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02008-2

Research and application brief

Report generated: . This date does not confirm that recruitment remains open.

Information updated: . Recheck the original notice before applying.

Show report contents

PhD: Reservoir Carbon Dynamics and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Research cutoff: 6 November 2026
Opportunity: YES-27-G-04, University of Leeds, School of Geography

Decision summary

This is an interdisciplinary PhD opportunity focused on a clear evidence gap: reservoir greenhouse-gas observations can miss spatial and seasonal variation, limiting interpretation and model evaluation. The proposed work combines broader in-situ observations, aquatic carbon and water-chemistry context, and statistical or model comparison. The University of Leeds is the named host and degree-awarding institution.

Before relying on the listing, resolve two official-page conflicts. The opening date is shown as both 2 November and 12 November 2026. International applicants are eligible to apply, but the network FAQ says international candidates may receive up to 30% of full awards. Obtain written award terms for the 2027/28 stipend and overseas-fee coverage. Also ask how the 3.5-year award aligns with Leeds' standard three-year full-time PhD registration. The stated deadline is 12 January 2027 at 13:00 GMT. Detailed application instructions Network homepage FAQ

Research problem and likely doctoral work

Reservoirs can emit greenhouse gases as organic matter is processed and carbon moves through water and downstream systems. Relevant pathways include diffusion and ebullition from the water surface, and releases when water passes through turbines or valves into downstream rivers. The project description names CO2, CH4 and N2O, while inventory boundaries and methods differ across gases. Available measurements may be sparse in space and time, often concentrated at accessible shorelines. The project aims to improve spatial coverage and interpret emissions alongside physical, chemical and biological ecosystem drivers. Its page describes a remote-controlled sampling boat for reaching less-sampled areas, observations of surface emissions and dissolved gases, water chemistry and catchment characterization, followed by statistical analysis and modelling. The description also mentions dissolved organic matter, microbial-community characterization and catchment land use as explanatory context; confirm which measurements are core and how they fit the field and analysis plan. Comparing observations with G-res and earth-observation estimates is part of the intended work. Optional possibilities include adapting vessel electronics for portable sensors or adding depth-specific sampling; these are not stated as fixed deliverables. Official project description

The project may focus on UK upland reservoirs and could extend to tropical or subtropical hydropower systems through existing links, including Nepal. These are possible directions, not confirmed field placements. Exact sites, field seasons, sampling frequency, and the balance of field, laboratory, modelling and optional hardware work remain unspecified. The biological component is best understood as high-level ecosystem characterization; the public listing does not fix a specific protocol.

A useful research question to discuss is whether more spatially representative observations materially change estimated fluxes or the evaluation of existing models. That is an evidence-based interpretation, not a promised thesis question. IPCC inventory guidance includes reservoirs and discusses carbon-dioxide and methane accounting pathways. G-res estimates net emissions from reservoir and catchment information and draws on measurements from more than 200 reservoirs. Better coverage could support empirical characterization and model evaluation, but the project does not promise a global model revision or emissions reduction. Accounting boundaries for other gases should be checked separately. IPCC wetlands guidance G-res Tool

Research field and current direction

Reservoir-emissions research combines direct measurement with empirical and process models, remote sensing and machine learning, while confronting sparse ground truth and transferability limits. A 2026 review compares the data requirements and uncertainties of these approaches. A 2025 scenario study estimates a 24–91% increase in lake and reservoir methane emissions by 2080–2099 under its modelled scenarios. This is not a site-specific forecast. Better field observations matter because sparse or spatially biased data can weaken inventory estimates and remote-sensing validation. Methods review Future methane study

The advertised work connects three levels of evidence: direct observations, environmental context such as catchment characteristics and water chemistry, and comparison with existing estimates. Potential contributions include testing how representative surface measurements are, identifying conditions associated with variation, and assessing where model estimates are sensitive to local observations. The extent of each contribution depends on confirmed sites, access and project planning. Do not assume that inventory guidance treats all greenhouse gases identically.

Supervisors and research environment

Professor Lee Brown is the primary supervisor. His School profile lists aquatic science, freshwater ecology, reservoirs, catchment processes and greenhouse-gas emissions among his research interests. Dr Cat Moody contributes expertise in aquatic organic matter, peatland carbon cycling, water chemistry and catchment influences. Both are associated with Leeds' River Basin Processes and Management group and the wider water@leeds network, which describes work across hydrology, biogeochemistry, aquatic ecosystems and modelling. Lee Brown profile Cat Moody profile River Basin Processes and Management

Recent publications provide relevant context, though most are adjacent to rather than direct studies of reservoir greenhouse-gas fluxes:

  • Brown and collaborators' 2024 review covers sensor-data integration and machine learning in river-carbon measurement. It informs the data-integration rationale; reservoir transfer remains to be tested. Paper
  • Moody and collaborators' 2025 study examines spatial and seasonal variation in aquatic organic-matter composition across UK surface waters, including reservoirs. It is not a direct emissions study. Paper
  • Moody's 2024 paper examines organic-matter composition across UK and Faroe peatland catchments and aquatic processing. It contributes water-chemistry and carbon context, not direct flux quantification. Paper
  • Arsenault and colleagues' 2023 paper studies spatial and temporal patterns in peatland-pool biogeochemistry, an adjacent example of interpreting aquatic variation against environmental drivers. Paper
  • Beadle, Holden and Brown's 2023 work examines aquatic communities in peatland restoration settings. It broadens the ecosystem context but is not a reservoir emissions paper. Paper

The listing names Taylor Maavara at the Cary Institute as a project partner and says CASE conversion may be possible, but it marks the project as not a formal collaborative project. Confirm whether the partner has a defined supervisory, placement or fieldwork role; do not assume a placement or additional funding. Public pages do not guarantee equipment allocation, vessel access, field training or supervision frequency.

University, school and doctoral setting

The University of Leeds is the named host and degree-awarding institution; its official contact page locates it in the UK. The project sits in the School of Geography. The School reports Geography at 26th globally in QS subject rankings for 2026 and 14th in the UK for Geography and Environmental Science in the Complete University Guide 2027. It also reports 93% of research in REF 2021 Unit of Assessment 14 as world-leading or internationally excellent. These are subject and unit-level context; they do not measure this project's quality, supervision capacity or student outcomes. School reputation and rankings University contact

Leeds describes a standard three-year full-time PhD registration, while YES-DTN describes 3.5 years of funding. The offer should clarify registration mode, funded period, training, progression milestones, expected submission and any writing-up period. The listing does not describe employment with a water company or a second degree through a network partner. Leeds research-degree structure

Funding, fees and living costs

YES-DTN's general terms describe a UKRI-rate stipend for 3.5 years, University fees and support for research, fieldwork, training and conference activity. Its FAQ says international candidates may receive up to 30% of full awards across the network, so eligibility to apply is not a promise of a funded place. It also says relocation costs are not covered. Confirm visa, health-surcharge, flight, deposit and other start-up costs against the offer. Funding and application page FAQ

UKRI's 2026/27 minimum stipend is £21,805 from 1 October 2026. This is a current benchmark; the 2027/28 award value is not confirmed in the evidence reviewed. Leeds lists 2027/28 international Geography research tuition at £29,750 per year, with the home fee to be confirmed. YES-DTN says awardees receive University-fee support including the international differential, but the written award should specify actual coverage and treatment of fee increases. UKRI studentship guidance Leeds research fees

Leeds' 2026 living-cost guide estimates an average £320 per week, or £16,640 across 52 weeks, excluding tuition. Its published annual range is £8,890–£24,230. Compared mechanically with the current UKRI stipend benchmark, the average leaves £5,165 before visa and health-surcharge charges, relocation, flights, housing deposits, inflation and personal spending differences. This is not a confirmed 2027/28 budget or a disposable-income estimate. Leeds living-cost guidance

The detailed instructions state that applications open on 12 November 2026 at 10:00 GMT and close on 12 January 2027 at 13:00 GMT. The network homepage instead states that applications open on 2 November 2026 at 10:00 GMT. Verify which date is authoritative. The process requires a Leeds online application first; its student ID is used for a separate structured YES-DTN application. Late or incomplete applications are not processed. Detailed instructions Homepage

Applicant preparation

The School's minimum is a 2:1 degree in geography or a related subject. YES-DTN says a first-class degree is normally competitive for scholarship selection and that a master's degree is valuable. These are general criteria; the project page does not publish a separate mandatory technical-skills list. The School lists IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each component, subject to current rules and exemptions. Confirm eligibility for a particular degree title with admissions. Geography entry requirements YES-DTN FAQ

Use concrete examples to show quantitative reasoning, field or laboratory research, uncertainty handling and communication across disciplines. Experience with water or carbon data, statistics, modelling, GIS, programming or sensors may help explain readiness, but the listing does not make each item a prerequisite. A concise statement can connect previous work to spatial sampling bias, reservoir processes and model evaluation.

This is a two-stage process: the Leeds online application generates a student ID needed for the separate structured YES-DTN application. Prepare transcripts, certificates and certified translations where required, then check the live form for the final checklist. The network describes several hundred applications for approximately 26 studentships annually. That is network-wide competition context, not a project-specific admission probability. Recruitment process

Career context

The project can build transferable skills in environmental measurement, water and carbon data interpretation, statistics, modelling, catchment understanding and technical communication. These may be relevant to water and environmental consultancy, water-company science and accounting, catchment management, river restoration, monitoring and academic research.

CIWEM and Water UK report broad water-sector skills needs and recruitment forecasts. National Careers Service guidance describes consulting work involving survey information, analysis, reporting and environmental advice. A current regional fluvial-geomorphology and hydraulic-modelling vacancy illustrates one adjacent role. None of these sources establishes a job guarantee, salary, placement rate or forecast specific to reservoir-emissions PhD graduates. CIWEM skills report Water UK skills and jobs Environmental consultant profile Regional role example

Priority questions and next steps

Before applying: ask YES-DTN to confirm the opening date and verify the deadline, time zone and sequence of the two forms. Ask how many international full awards are expected and whether this project has an allocation. Prepare the Leeds application first to allow time to receive the student ID, then complete the separate network application.

When discussing the project: ask which reservoirs and field seasons are planned; which measurements and model comparisons are core; and how work is divided between field observations, analysis and modelling. Clarify which vessel or sensor-development ideas are optional, what training and equipment access are assured, and what role the external partner will play.

Before accepting an offer: obtain written confirmation of stipend, annual increases, overseas-fee coverage, funded duration, registration mode, progression and thesis-submission expectations. Ask how any period beyond funding is treated and which visa, health-surcharge, relocation, travel and housing start-up costs remain personal.

Evidence and sources

Project, application and funding

University, supervisors and setting

Research and field context

Career context

Sources

The listing may come from a university or recruitment platform. Check the notice and official sources in the report for current application requirements. View the recruitment source

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