Details
The water fluxes between a river and its floodplain are a key part of the water cycle and sustain special ecosystems adapted to these regular cycles. Despite being the world’s second largest river by flow, we still do not know with any certainty or detail what these fluxes are for the Congo River and the Cuvette Centrale wetland at its centre (Alsdorf et al. 2016).
We do know that the Cuvette Centrale supports expansive wetland forests and vast peatlands, the health of which are tied strongly to the water cycle and its dynamics (Dargie et al. 2017). The aim of this PhD will be to quantify these important fluxes and what governs their variation and direction, to better understand the fluvial connection between the main river channel and the Cuvette Centrale wetlands and their role in supporting this important ecosystem.
The project will require the use of a range of hydrological methods and data. There will be fieldwork involved in the DRC, installing in-situ hydrological equipment to collect long-term data of hydrology variables such as rainfall, water levels and river flow. The fieldwork will also involve the use of Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), sonar and other during fieldwork instruments to measure parameters at other locations, as well as for calibrating the long-term monitoring equipment.
Due to the vast scale of the river, it will be necessary to augment the monitoring data with analysis and study of a range of remote sensing data to: (i) identify the best locations for in-situ measurements, and (ii) scale the local measurements to draw implications for a much larger spatial area. Finally, if data is sufficient, it may be possible to build on some existing 2D hydrodynamic modelling to better quantify fluxes temporally.
This PhD will be undertaken alongside two other PhDs observing hydrology in the Congo Basin (and MSc projects). These PhDs are a key component of the Hydrology and Freshwater Observatory in the CBSI Science and Capacity Plan project and will set the path for the future of hydrology research in the Congo Basin.
Coordination is essential to ensure similar methods, efficient use of resources, combined field logistics and sharing of data and findings. Alongside the Hydrology and Freshwater Observatory, it is envisaged that this PhD will need to coordinate with other PhDs in other observatories as well, particularly the observatories covering climate and vegetation.
The PhD will enhance the consolidation of the Congo Basin Catchment Information System (CB-CIS, cbcis.info) through regular provision of in-situ data quality, remote sensing and modelling results. CB-CIS is part of the global hydrology and freshwater observatory for the Congo basin.
The results of the PhD will be an important input to other research work in the project such as those of biodiversity and socio-ecology. A key objective is to assess how changes in water surface elevations and the connectivity of rivers to wetlands influences the central Congo peatlands, in order to understand how any changes may affect fishing in the peatlands, a major livelihood activity, and how any changes in these flows may affect the globally significant storage of carbon in the water-logged peat soil.
The Hydrology and Freshwater Observatory will build on and extend the pioneering work of the Congo River users Hydraulics and Morphology project funded by the Royal Society (2016- 2022). The CRuHM project established fieldwork methodologies for measuring hydrology in this challenging environment and therefore your PhD supervisors have personal experience of working in this context (Bates et al. 2024, Tshimanga et al. 2022).
You will be encouraged to develop and strengthen collaborations with other CBSI students and researchers working. You will be supported to publish your work in leading academic journals and communicate your results as widely as possible, including to policy makers.
This strong experienced supervision team and well-funded research project will provide a fantastic opportunity to develop your research skills and make a unique contribution to scientific discovery and sustainability of the Congo Basin.
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Funding eligibility criteria:
Must be a national of and ordinarily resident in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon or Republic of the Congo, including at the time of application (28 February 2025). Proof of eligibility will be required.
Monthly stipend:
Students receive standard CBSI stipend, currently:
USD 1,000 per month PhD in central Africa
USD 700 per month MSc in central Africa.
GBP 1,603 per month in UK (the UK standard maintenance stipend).
Funding for University fees included:
Other funding included:
Relevant costs to purchase equipment, field costs, English language training, and travel for training and attending scientific conferences are included in the funding. For applications to UK universities funding includes intensive training to help you prepare for English language tests that you will need to pass in order to meet University entry requirements.
- Establishment of a new hydrological monitoring location within the DRC portion of the Congo Basin.
- Identification of spatial and temporal patterns (and their quantification) related to water fluxes between the main river and the Cuvette Centrale.
- Identification of key processes that control these fluxes.
- Establishment of causal links between the short and long term variations in water fluxes and the ecosystems that are dependent upon them.
Ideally you will have a background in environmental science or engineering, with some knowledge of hydrology and its measurement. Also useful will be some knowledge of remote sensing technologies and analysis methods. Experience of fieldwork would be an advantage as there will be multiple fieldwork visits in the DRC Congo Basin, which are essential for this PhD project.
Alsdorf, D., Beighley, E., Laraque, A., Lee, H., Tshimanga, R., O’Loughlin, F., Mahé, G., Dinga, B., Moukandi, G. and Spencer, R.G., 2016. Opportunities for hydrologic research in the Congo Basin. Reviews of Geophysics, 54(2), pp.378-409.
Bates, P.D., Tshimanga, R.M., Trigg, M.A., Carr, A., Mushi, C.A., Kabuya, P.M., Bola, G., Neal, J., Ndomba, P., Mtalo, F. and Hughes, D., 2024. Creating sustainable capacity for river science in the Congo basin through the CRuHM project. Interface Focus, 14(4), p.20230079.
Dargie, G.C., Lewis, S.L., Lawson, I.T., Mitchard, E.T., Page, S.E., Bocko, Y.E. and Ifo, S.A., 2017. Age, extent and carbon storage of the central Congo Basin peatland complex. Nature, 542(7639), pp.86-90.
Tshimanga, R.M., N’kaya, G.D.M., Laraque, A., Nicholson, S.E., Onema, J.M.K., Lumbuenamo, R. and Alsdorf, D., 2022. Congo Basin Research: Building a Foundation for the Future. Congo Basin Hydrology, Climate, and Biogeochemistry: A Foundation for the Future, pp.1-11.
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Research outcomes
- Establishment of a new hydrological monitoring location within the DRC portion of the Congo Basin.
- Identification of spatial and temporal patterns (and their quantification) related to water fluxes between the main river and the Cuvette Centrale.
- Identification of key processes that control these fluxes.
- Establishment of causal links between the short and long term variations in water fluxes and the ecosystems that are dependent upon them.
Pre-requisite skills
Ideally you will have a background in environmental science or engineering, with some knowledge of hydrology and its measurement. Also useful will be some knowledge of remote sensing technologies and analysis methods. Experience of fieldwork would be an advantage as there will be multiple fieldwork visits in the DRC Congo Basin, which are essential for this PhD project.
References
Alsdorf, D., Beighley, E., Laraque, A., Lee, H., Tshimanga, R., O’Loughlin, F., Mahé, G., Dinga, B., Moukandi, G. and Spencer, R.G., 2016. Opportunities for hydrologic research in the Congo Basin. Reviews of Geophysics, 54(2), pp.378-409.
Bates, P.D., Tshimanga, R.M., Trigg, M.A., Carr, A., Mushi, C.A., Kabuya, P.M., Bola, G., Neal, J., Ndomba, P., Mtalo, F. and Hughes, D., 2024. Creating sustainable capacity for river science in the Congo basin through the CRuHM project. Interface Focus, 14(4), p.20230079.
Dargie, G.C., Lewis, S.L., Lawson, I.T., Mitchard, E.T., Page, S.E., Bocko, Y.E. and Ifo, S.A., 2017. Age, extent and carbon storage of the central Congo Basin peatland complex. Nature, 542(7639), pp.86-90.
Tshimanga, R.M., N’kaya, G.D.M., Laraque, A., Nicholson, S.E., Onema, J.M.K., Lumbuenamo, R. and Alsdorf, D., 2022. Congo Basin Research: Building a Foundation for the Future. Congo Basin Hydrology, Climate, and Biogeochemistry: A Foundation for the Future, pp.1-11.
Apply
How to apply:
Please read our application guide. You must submit your application and supporting documents via our online portal by 28 February 2025. We will not be able to assess your application without all required supporting documents.
In the online portal, you will need to:
- Choose a name to identify your application. Name the application: PhD U. of Leeds (Monitoring water flux dynamics between Congo River main-stem and Cuvette Centrale wetlands)
- Select the scholarship that you are applying for. Select the scholarship entitled: PhD U. of Leeds (Monitoring water flux dynamics between Congo River main-stem and Cuvette Centrale wetlands)
Application deadline:
February 28, 2025
Expected project start date:
September, 2025
Language of application:
You will need to submit your scholarship application form, statements and CV in English.
You can upload your supporting documents and references in English or in French.
How we assess your application:
Please read our application guide.
Degree Awarding Institution
The application procedure here, as part of CBSI, is to win funding and a supervisory team for the project. Successful applicants will then need to apply to their degree awarding institution to secure a place. Scholarships can only be awarded to successful applicants who have met all conditions required for entry to their degree awarding institution and then officially accepted a place at that institution. Below are details of the criteria needed to apply for a place at the degree awarding institution.
Admissions criteria of the degree awarding institution:
- You must have achieved a bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons), or equivalent, or a good performance in a Masters level course in a relevant subject. We also recognise relevant industrial and academic experience.
- The minimum University language requirement is IELTS band score 6.0 – with not less than 5.5 in any skill area or Internet based TOEFL 80 (with not less than 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 19 in writing). Tests must be taken at a test centre. All approved tests must have been awarded no more than 2 years from the proposed start date.
For further details please see: Entry requirements | School of Civil Engineering | University of Leeds
How to apply to the degree awarding institution:
For information on how to apply to the University of Leeds, please visit the admissions pages of the School of Civil Engineering and the University of Leeds.
You should apply immediately after you hear the outcome of the CBSI Scholarship application process.
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Contact
For enquiries about…
This project:
Contact Mark Trigg by email to m.trigg@leeds.ac.uk
Your scholarship application:
Contact: info@congobasinscience.net
Applications to the degree awarding institution:
Contact: rp_applications@adm.leeds.ac.uk
