PhD in Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Wastewater Management

University of Limerick; Ireland; On-site; EUR 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Limerick invites applications for a PhD research project focused on Nature-Based Solutions for sustainable wastewater treatment, with emphasis on the efficiency, optimisation, and practical application of constructed wetlands and passive treatment systems.

The project will involve laboratory experiments, pilot-scale investigations, and field-based research, exploring performance under various conditions and potential industry collaborations for real-world wastewater management

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree with a strong academic record.
• Interest in wastewater treatment, environmental biotechnology, ecological engineering or NbS.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Interest in experimental research and laboratory/field work.
• Good quantitative and scientific communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Investigate performance and optimisation of constructed wetlands and passive treatment technologies under various operating conditions.
• Evaluate treatment efficiency for different wastewater streams.
• Assist in experimental design, data collection, and analysis of NbS for wastewater management.
• Participate in modelling, statistics, and data-driven approaches to understand treatment performance.
• Explore scaling lab results to pilot and real-world applications.

Skills

Analytical skills

Quantitative skills

Lab work

Data analysis

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Limerick Department Biological Sciences Research Field Environmental science » Water science Engineering » Agricultural engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 6 Nov 2026 - 12:30 (Europe/Dublin) Country Ireland Type of Contract Other Type of Contract Extra Information PhD Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

PhD Title: Efficiency and Optimisation of Constructed Wetlands and Passive Treatment Systems for Wastewater Management

We invite applications for a PhD research project focused on Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for sustainable wastewater treatment, with particular emphasis on the efficiency, optimisation, and practical application of constructed wetlands and passive treatment systems.

The project will investigate how nature-based and low-energy treatment technologies can be designed and optimised to provide effective, resilient, and sustainable treatment of wastewater, including industrial effluents and treated wastewater streams.

Research Focus

The successful candidate will investigate the performance and optimisation of constructed wetlands and/or other passive treatment technologies under a range of operating conditions. The research may include:

• Evaluating the treatment efficiency of constructed wetlands and passive treatment systems for different wastewater streams.
• Understanding the influence of hydraulic loading, retention time, substrate characteristics, vegetation, temperature, redox conditions and seasonal variabilityon treatment performance.
• Developing approaches to optimise system design and operational conditionsto maximise treatment efficiency while minimising energy, land and operational requirements.
• Assessing the performance of nature-based systems for the polishing of treated effluentsprior to discharge or potential reuse.
• Combining experimental data with modelling, statistical analysis and/or data-driven approachesto understand and predict treatment performance.
• Assessing the potential for scaling laboratory and pilot-scale systems towards real-world applications.
• Considering the environmental sustainability, resource recovery potential and lifecycle implications of passive treatment technologies.

Research Approach

The project will involve a combination of laboratory experiments, pilot-scale investigations and field-based research, depending on the candidate's interests and the specific research questions developed during the PhD.

The candidate will have opportunities to work with real wastewater and industrial effluents, undertake detailed water-quality analysis, develop and operate experimental treatment systems, and apply quantitative approaches to evaluate and optimise system performance.

The research is intended to contribute to the development of practical, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternatives or complementary technologies to conventional wastewater treatment.

Candidate Profile

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in environmental engineering, environmental science, water and wastewater treatment, biotechnology, chemical engineering, civil engineering, or a closely related discipline.

Applicants should ideally have:

• A relevant Bachelor's or Master's degreewith a strong academic record.
• An interest in wastewater treatment, environmental biotechnology, ecological engineering or nature-based solutions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• An interest in experimental research and laboratory/field work.
• Good quantitative and scientific communication skills.
• The ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team.

Experience with water-quality analysis, constructed wetlands, wastewater treatment, environmental microbiology, chemical analysis, statistical analysis, modelling or data sciencewould be advantageous but is not essential.

What the PhD Offers

The successful candidate will join a research environment working at the interface of environmental engineering, water management and nature-based solutions. The project offers opportunities to develop expertise in:

• Nature-based wastewater treatment technologies
• Constructed wetland design and optimisation
• Industrial wastewater treatment
• Water-quality monitoring and analysis
• Experimental and pilot-scale research
• Environmental modelling and data analysis
• Sustainable water management
• Resource recovery and circular-economy approaches

The research has potential for collaboration with industry, water utilities, environmental organisations and other academic partners, providing opportunities to connect fundamental research with real-world wastewater management challenges.