Tools for assessing microbial risks of groundwater heating

Applications are invited for a 3.5 years PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 1 October 2026
Man testing for microbial risks in thermal storage. Gregory studentship

Apply 

To apply for the ARIES Doctoral Training Partnership studentship please simply click on the 鈥online application鈥 link below for PhD Environmental Sciences :
Within the Research section of the application form, in the following fields, please add: 
  • 'Proposed project title/studentship title' add: ARIES 26-10 Gregory BGS
  • 'Studentship Code' add: Not applicable 
When the application asks for a research proposal, please just upload a blank document. A research proposal is not needed for this programme as you are applying directly to a studentship project. 

Application guidance 

It is important that you follow the instructions above or your application for this studentship may be missed and therefore will not be considered. 
G You must submit one application per studentship, you cannot apply for multiple studentships on one application.
Before applying, please ensure you have read the Doctoral College鈥檚 general information on applying for a postgraduate research degree .  
For more information on the admissions process please contact research.degree.admissions@plymouth.ac.uk. 
 
Director of Studies: , British Geological Survey
2nd Supervisor: Dr Matt Bailey Ross  
3rd Supervisor: , British Geological Survey
4th Supervisor: Dr Sian Loveless, Environment Agency
Applications are invited for a 3.5 years PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 1 October 2026

Project description 

We invite applications for an exciting project that will explore how microbes interact with aquifer energy systems, a crucial technology in the decarbonisation of our built environment. The project will involve field and laboratory investigations to understand how temperature changes associated with ground source heating and cooling will affect the microbiology in groundwater. Changes to microbial community diversity and number (including pathogens); precipitation/dissolution/biofilm formation; organic matter degradation; redox status of groundwater and production of toxic products; and decomposition and mobilisation of contaminants have been identified as potential consequences of increased groundwater temperatures in the Environment Agency Ground Source Heating and Cooling systems map (https://kumu.io/csgnz/environment-agency-gshc-systems-map-2024 ). All these impacts are identified as having 鈥渃omplex/uncertain鈥 interactions indicating the need for further research. 

Training

You will be based within the geomicrobiology group at the BGS headquarters in Keyworth, Nottingham with short periods of time spent at 草霉视频. Training will be provided in analysis of microbial communities and processes (DNA based techniques, microscopy, microbial culture and water chemical analysis), hydrochemistry, experimental design and fieldwork. The project will require fieldwork to be carried out at the UKGEOS site in Cheshire and other UK sites. Field sampling and monitoring will be combined with programme of laboratory experiments to determine microbial responses to temperature change.
During the project, you will identify a suite of tests, based on literature review, that could be used as a toolkit to assess microbial risks associated with warming groundwater. These will then be tested in the laboratory and field to help quantify risk. The project will focus on developing tests that could easily be used in real world situations and will also make use of DNA sequencing technologies to better understand the effects on microbial communities.

Person specification

Applicants should have enthusiasm for decarbonisation, environmental sciences and applied research. While full training can be provided, the successful applicant is highly likely to have experience in relevant laboratory or field work, microbiology or molecular biology (particularly related to environmental microbiology).

References 

Barnett, M., J. Farr, G., Shen, J. and Gregory, S., 2023. Groundwater microbiology of an urban open鈥恖oop ground source heat pump with high methane. Groundwater, 61(2), pp.274-287.
Monaghan, Alison A.; Bateson, Luke; Boyce, Adrian J.; Burnside, Neil M.; Chambers, Rebecca; de Rezende, Julia R.; Dunnet, Eilidh; Everett, Paul A.; Gilfillan, Stuart M. V.; Jibrin, Muhammad S.; Johnson, Gareth; Luckett, Richard; MacAllister, Donald John  ; MacDonald, Alan M.  ; Moreau, John W.; Newsome, Laura; Novellino, Alessandro; Palumbo-Roe, Barbara; Pereira, Ryan; Smith, Douglas; Spence, Mike J.; Starcher, Vanessa; Taylor-Curran, Helen; Vane, Christopher H.  ; Wagner, Thomas; Walls, David B. (2022). Time Zero for Net Zero: A Coal Mine Baseline for Decarbonising Heat. Earth Science, Systems and Society, 2, 10054.
Bailey, M. T., Gandy C. J., Watson, I. A., Wyatt, L. W. and Jarvis, A. P., (2016). 鈥楬eat Recovery Potential of Mine Water Treatment Systems in Great Britain鈥, International Journal of Coal Geology 164, 77-84 Elsevier.
Bailey, M. T., Moorhouse, A. M. L. and Watson, I. A., (2013). Heat extraction from hypersaline mine water at the Dawdon mine water treatment site. Proceedings of the Eighth International Seminar on Mine Closure, Cornwall, UK. 559-570. Australian Centre for Geomechanics.
Spence, M.J., Bottrell, S.H., Thornton, S.F., Richnow, H.H., Spence, K.H. (2005): Hydrochemical and isotopic effects associated with petroleum fuel biodegradation pathways in a chalk aquifer. J. Contam. Hydrol. 79 (1-2), 67 - 88

Eligibility 

Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree in an appropriate subject or a relevant Masters qualification. Applicants should be able to demonstrate an interest in decarbonisation, environmental sciences and applied research. The successful applicant is likely to have experience of relevant laboratory or field skills. 
If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent.  
Successful candidates who meet UKRI鈥檚 eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded ARIES studentship of fees, maintenance stipend, 拢20,780 p.a. for 2025/26 (2026/27 rate TBC) and research costs. 
A limited number of ARIES studentships are available to International applicants. Please note however that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK.
NB: The studentship is supported for 3.5 years of the four-year registration period. The subsequent 6 months of registration is a self-funded 鈥榳riting-up鈥 period. 
ARIES is committed to in all areas of its operation. We encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, and transgender status. Projects have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive, and appropriate research and fieldwork environment. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, with equal weighting given to experience and potential. 
For further information, please visit
If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Dr Simon Gregory, simongr@bgs.ac.uk.
Please see our apply for a postgraduate research programme page for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application. 
For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our apply for a postgraduate research programme page or contact the Doctoral College .
The closing date for applications is 7 January 2026. 
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview after the deadline. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received a response within six weeks of the closing date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.