Research Student Spotlight April 2026: Janae Steadman

Our monthly spotlight on the work and lives of the next generation of water@leeds researchers.

Name: Janae Steadman

PhD title: Investigating the co-evolution of the Congo River channels and peatlands.

School of Civil Engineering

Supervisors: Prof. Mark Trigg, Prof. Mark Smith, Dr. Greta Dargie, Prof. Raphael Tshimanga

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I grew up in Trinidad and Tobago. I completed my undergraduate degree in Environmental Science at the University of the West Indies followed by an MSc in Geographical Information Systems at the University of Leeds. During that time, I focused on developing technical skills in spatial analysis and I became particularly interested in applying these tools to understand environmental change in tropical systems.

Why did you choose University of Leeds?

I chose the University of Leeds for my MSc because of its focus on developing practical skills in spatial analysis for environmental science. During that time, I was exposed to a broader research environment which really helped shape my interests. By the end of my MSc, it felt like a natural progression to stay at Leeds for my PhD; the strong research community and the opportunity to work on large-scale tropical river systems all aligned closely with the direction I wanted to take.

What is your research about?

My research investigates how the Congo River and its peatlands co-evolve over time, particularly why these peat-rich floodplains remain stable despite being part of a large and dynamic river system. Peatlands in the Congo Basin have been forming for tens of thousands of years, which is surprising because we would expect them to be eroded by channel migration. My research explores the mechanisms that allow the river and peatlands to persist including bank stabilisation and hydrological connectivity.

What inspired you to undertake your PhD project?

Environmental systems in the Global South are often underrepresented in research despite their importance. This creates a need for approaches that can study large and often inaccessible landscapes more effectively. Remote sensing offers a way to do this, allowing us to investigate environmental processes using satellite data, particularly in regions where funding and field data is limited. Coming from a background in tropical environmental science and GIS, the project felt like a natural fit.

Linkedin: Janae Steadman | LinkedIn