Academic internship: Increasing river water temperatures under climate change.

2

South West

Bristol

Horizon House

Staff Grade 2

Internship

Full Time

Science

£20,507 pro rata

The intern(s) will work with our climate change and ecology research experts to apply river temperature projections to inform our understanding of how water quality and river ecosystems may be affected by increasing river water temperatures under climate change.

The intern(s), in discussion with Environment Agency staff, will decide the focus and depth of this work in the following areas:

a) How have river temperatures across England been changing in response to climate change, how do they compare with air temperature and how are they expected to change in the future?

b) How might these changes affect water quality and river ecosystems, and what are the implications for managing these risks?

The work will analyse our river water temperature projections to understand the magnitude and geography of potential changes, and will apply a mixture of modelling approaches to understand the risks they pose to, for example, the development of algal blooms, changes in dissolved oxygen, and/or fish spawning potential and mortality.

The outputs will be a summary of the main changes in river water temperature, an initial understanding of the risks these may present. These will inform our approach to using the projections in different areas of the business.

We are a small group of experienced research scientists within the Environment Agency with expertise focused on climate change impacts and adaptation in the water environment. Based at various locations around England we deliver and translate research that is accessible to colleagues and informs our strategic and operational management of English rivers in the face of climate change and other pressures. Most team members have higher degrees and several years’ experience.

Applicants might have a background in ecology, hydrology, environmental science or climate change.

You will be studying towards, or have recently completed, an undergraduate, master’s or PhD degree in a related field and have good communication and writing skills. You will also be able to work with and analyse large and complex environmental datasets.

Additionally, you’ll be:

• Confident working with quantitative and qualitative data and information and be able to draw reliable conclusions.
• Competent is statistical analysis; numerical or other modelling skills an advantage.
• Able to demonstrate a variety of communication methods used to convey ideas and present complex information in an understandable way.
• Naturally inquisitive, and a logical and analytical thinker.
• You’ll be comfortable working independently as well as part of a team.
• Competent MS Office user.

Please contact Matt Charlton, Senior Scientist, Climate Change and Resource Efficiency Research, for further information:

matt.charlton@environment-agency.gov.uk

Mobile: 07584187531

This post will be based in Bristol.

Interviews will take place on MS Teams in March.

The internship will last for up to 16 weeks, starting in July and ending by 31 October at the latest.