We offer a range of PhDs funded by different sources, such as research councils, industries or charities. As a PhD student, you will become a valued member of a research group. Here you will work with internationally respected academics, post-doctoral research associates and technicians. Find out more about our research groups below.
How to Apply
To apply for a funded PhD please read the advertised project information carefully as requirements will vary between funders. The project information will include details of funding eligibility, application deadline dates and links to application forms. Only applicants who have a relevant background and meet the funding criteria can be considered.
Current PhD Opportunities
Current PhD Opportunities List accordion
Amber Leeson, Katie Miles, Mal McMillan
Project Description
During the summer months, supraglacial hydrological features, including lakes, streams and slush, form on the surface of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. These features are important for the stability of ice shelves – floating extensions of the ice sheet that extend into the ocean – for two main reasons. First, glacial hydrological features can only form where more melting occurs than can be absorbed by surface snow, and are thus an important indicator that the ice shelf has reached, or is near to, its limit of viability with respect to climate change. Second, when supraglacial lakes fill and drain, they can contribute directly to instability by creating cracks that penetrate through the ice shelf, potentially creating icebergs. Such a mechanism is thought to have been the trigger for the complete collapse of Larsen B Ice Shelf in 2002. However, if lakes fill and drain up-glacier where ice sits on rock rather than water (i.e., above the grounding line), water drained to the glacier bed can lubricate ice flow and increase flux into the ice shelf, potentially increasing contributions to global sea level rise. Supraglacial lake drainage events have been shown to impact ice flow in Greenland; and there is recent evidence that this phenomenon may also occur on the Antarctic Peninsula.
This PhD project will develop a continent-wide surface hydrology dataset through the application of machine learning methods to optical satellite imagery in Google Earth Engine. The new dataset will then be used to advance understanding of the dynamics of supraglacial hydrology in Antarctica, for example, the influence of extreme weather events such as atmospheric rivers, which result in short periods of enhanced melt for Antarctic ice shelves. By investigating the covariance between supraglacial hydrological features and extreme melt events, we will tackle research questions such as: Do extreme melt events precondition Antarctica’s ice shelves for future meltwater ponding? And Will more of Antarctica’s ice shelves be susceptible to meltwater ponding in the future? The dataset will also be used to investigate patterns of lake drainage above and below the grounding line in order to understand the relationship between the development of supraglacial hydrology and the potential for triggering ice shelf collapse and destabilisation. This will answer research questions such as: ‘Do draining supraglacial lakes cause long-term damage to ice shelves?’ And ‘Do lakes that drain above the grounding line speed up ice sheet flow?’.
The PhD will be based in the Polar Science research group at Lancaster University and will directly contribute to the European Space Agency funded 5D Antarctica (5DA) project. The student will actively participate in the 5DA project as part of the science team, and will have further opportunities for wider networking through the group’s affiliation with the national Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling and the Centre for Excellence in Environmental Data Science. The successful student will also gain international teaching experience at the Lancaster University College at Beijing Jiaotong University, which provides part of the funding for the studentship.
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are all distinctly advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course. However, applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background.
Project specific criteria
A master's or equivalent qualification, or close to completion, in a physical science discipline (e.g. Geoscience, Environmental Science, Data Science, Physics) and a demonstrable interest in polar science is required. Independent research and coding experience are desirable.
Studentship funding
Full studentships (UK tuition fees and stipend (£19,237 2024/25 [tax free])) for UK students for 3.5 years. Note that this opportunity is not open to international applicants.
Dates
Deadline for applications: applications will be considered until the position is filled.
Rename the referee form with your ‘Name and Reference’, e.g., Joe Bloggs Reference. Send the renamed reference form to two referees and request them to forward the referee document to lec.pgr.applications@lancaster.ac.uk
Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted. It is important that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
Dr Alexandra Gormally-Sutton (Human Geography, LEC), Professor Duncan Whyatt Earth Science and Physical Geography, LEC), Hazel Napier (British Geological Survey).
Project Description
The transition to net zero is at the forefront of UK Policy with calls for rapid decarbonisation across all sectors including energy supply. Whilst much of this focus is on surface activities (e.g. drive for more renewable technologies and carbon saving solutions such as Carbon Capture and reinvestment in nuclear), the role of underground space for this transition is often neglected. Reimagining underground resources and how these connect to surface needs such as affordable energy, will be vital if net zero is to be achieved successfully. This interdisciplinary studentship will take a place-based approach to exploring the role the underground/subsurface might play in the transition to NetZero and the socio-political questions that emerge at the surface. It will address interlocking research questions focused on ‘Resources, Community and Place-making, and Governance’ and will use a mixed-methods approach including qualitative, quantitative and spatial techniques, as its methodology.
General eligibility criteria
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are all distinctly advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course. However, applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background.
Project specific criteria
The ideal candidate will have an interest in using interdisciplinary approaches to exploring the Net zero transition. Specifically, we are interested in applicants that have a Geography (Human and/or Physical), Environmental Science or Geoscience background and that are willing to use social science concepts such as from environmental governance, political geology, sociotechnical transitions or political geography, alongside spatial and quantitative techniques. We encourage applications from researchers with experience of these, or from similar disciplines.
Studentship funding
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
Enquiries
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Dr Alexandra Gormally-Sutton a.gormally@lancaster.ac.uk for more information.
Dates
Deadline for applications: 24 March 2025
Provisional Interview Date: April-May 2025
Start Date: October 2025
Further reading
Bobbette and Donovan, 2019. Political geology: An introduction. Political geology: Active stratigraphies and the making of life, pp.1-34.
Bridge, 2013. Territory, now in 3D!. Political Geography, (34), pp.55-57.
Carley and Konisky, 2020. The justice and equity implications of the clean energy transition. Nature Energy, 5(8), pp.569-577.
Elden, 2013. Secure the volume: Vertical geopolitics and the depth of power. Political geography, 34, pp.35-51.
Gibson et al., 2016. A" mental models" approach to the communication of subsurface hydrology and hazards. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 20(5), pp.1737-1749.
Gormally et al., 2018. The pore space scramble; challenges and opportunities for subsurface governance. Geoforum, 95, pp.70-77.
Rename the referee form with your ‘Name and Reference’, e.g., Joe Bloggs Reference. Send the renamed reference form to two referees and request them to forward the referee document to lec.pgr.applications@lancaster.ac.uk
Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted. It is important that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
Dr Antonio Allegretti, Professor Chrsitina Hicks (Human Geography group, Lancaster Environment Centre), and Professor Lola Dada (Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, Management School, Lancaster University)
Project Description
The Blue Economy and Blue Growth agendas are rapidly changing the economic and policy landscape of resource extraction and wealth creation for ocean-based communities across Africa. Small-scale ocean actors, the cultural resources and skills they mobilise for their livelihoods, have been overlooked or marginalised in these processes, undermining livelihoods, and leaving an important gap in understanding localised creative capacities and resourcefulness. Although cultural heritage is typically viewed as static, and the responsibility of the state to ‘fix’ in time, this project offers an alternative view of CH as ‘lived expressions’ at the foundation of the coastal ‘Swahili’ identity. In doing so, and through the lens of Cultural Heritage, this project aims to uncover the opportunities that localised ideas and practices hold for growth visions in Kenya.
General eligibility criteria
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are all distinctly advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course. However, applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background.
Project specific criteria
The ideal candidate will have an interest in marine social sciences gained through experience of conducting primary or secondary research (e.g. for undergraduate and/or postgraduate final dissertations).
Bachelor 2.1 in social sciences (Human Geography, Anthropology, Sociology, Development Studies, African Studies)
Desirable: Master's degree in social sciences (Human Geography, Anthropology, Sociology, Development Studies, African Studies, Political Ecology)
Some experience of social science fieldwork in the Global South, using social science methods (interviews, focus group discussions, participatory research)
Studentship funding
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
Enquiries
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Antonio Allegretti (a.allegretti@lancaster.ac.uk) for more information.
Dates
Deadline for applications: 24 March 2025
Provisional Interview Date: April-May 2025
Start Date: October 2025
Further reading
Adams, K. M. (2005). Public Interest Anthropology in Heritage Sites: Writing Culture and Righting Wrongs. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 11(5), 433–439. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527250500337462
Anne-Marie Deisser & Mugwima Njuguna (Eds.). Conservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage in Kenya. UCL Press
Henderson, J., Breen, C., Esteves, L. et al. Rising from the Depths Network: A Challenge-Led
Research Agenda for Marine Heritage and Sustainable Development in Eastern Africa. Heritage 2021, 4, 1026–1048. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4030057
Chloé Josse-Durand (2018) The political role of ‘cultural entrepreneurs’ in Kenya: Claiming recognition through the memorialisation of Koitalel Samoei and Nandi heritage, African Studies, 77:2, 257-273, DOI: 10.1080/00020184.2018.1452859
Waterton, E., & Watson, S. (Eds.). (2015). The palgrave handbook of contemporary heritage research. Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Rename the referee form with your ‘Name and Reference’, e.g., Joe Bloggs Reference. Send the renamed reference form to two referees and request them to forward the referee document to lec.pgr.applications@lancaster.ac.uk
Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted. It is important that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
James Keeble and Oliver Wild, Environmental science research group
Project Description
Tropospheric ozone is a greenhouse gas and pollutant detrimental to human health and the biosphere. Unlike many pollutants, ozone is not directly emitted at the Earth’s surface, but continually produced and destroyed via chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Additionally, more than 500 Tg of ozone is transported from the stratosphere to the troposphere each year. As the stratospheric ozone layer recovers in the coming decades, and atmospheric circulation accelerates in response to climate change, it is expected that this will increase, which has significant implications for air quality targets, human health, and the climate. Using both model simulations and observations, this project will address unanswered questions around stratosphere to the troposphere transport of ozone (STT): do models accurately capture the mechanisms of STT, how has STT changed in the past and could change in the future, and what is the impact of STT on regional surface ozone mixing ratios, human health, and the biosphere?
General eligibility criteria
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are all distinctly advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course. However, applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background.
Project specific criteria
The ideal candidate will have an interest in atmospheric chemistry and physics, climate modelling, and the use of model datasets and observations to understand atmospheric processes. Prior experience of quantitative modelling is desirable but not essential – training to perform model simulations and analyse climate model output will be provided.
Studentship funding
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
Enquiries
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact James Keeble j.keeble2@lancaster.ac.uk for more information.
Dates
Deadline for applications: 24 March 2025
Provisional Interview Date: April-May 2025
Start Date: October 2025
Further reading
Archibald et al.: Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report: Critical review of changes in the tropospheric ozone burden and budget from 1850–2100, Elementa, https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.034, 2020
Rename the referee form with your ‘Name and Reference’, e.g., Joe Bloggs Reference. Send the renamed reference form to two referees and request them to forward the referee document to lec.pgr.applications@lancaster.ac.uk
Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted. It is important that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
Dr Katie Miles (Earth Sciences and Physical Geography, LEC), Professor Bryn Hubbard (Centre for Glaciology, Aberystwyth University), Professor Mal McMillan (Environmental Science, LEC)
Project Description
Ice shelves buffer the inland flow of the Antarctic Ice Sheet – their disintegration (e.g., the collapse of Larsen B Ice Shelf in 2002) can cause accelerated ice mass loss and sea-level contributions. Widespread melting on Antarctic ice shelves is penetrating through the firn layer and increasing both the density and the saturation of ice shelves, leading to widespread presence of ice slabs and surface meltwater ponding, which can decrease ice shelf stability. However, there is a lack of field data available to assess these processes.
The aim of this project is to investigate the saturation and density of firn on ice shelves across Antarctica, primarily using borehole optical televiewer data. Optical televiewers are high-resolution cameras that provide a 360° image of borehole walls, akin to the inverse of an ice core. The project will use a database of > 20 optical televiewer logs collected across Antarctica over the past decade – this archive holds a wealth of untapped information relating to firn structure, saturation, and density from multiple sites on multiple ice shelves. The project can be tailored to the student’s interests, e.g., developing machine learning methods to analyse the optical televiewer data, analysing additional available field data, and upscaling the field data (through remote sensing or firn modelling) to investigate Antarctic-wide ice shelf firn saturation.
General eligibility criteria
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are all distinctly advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course. However, applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background.
Project specific criteria
Candidates should have an interest in Glaciology, Antarctica, field data analysis, and/or image analysis techniques.
Studentship funding
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
Enquiries
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Dr. Katie Miles k.miles1@lancaster.ac.uk for more information.
Dates
Deadline for applications: 24 March 2025
Provisional Interview Date: April-May 2025
Start Date: October 2025
Further reading
Alley, K.E., Scambos, T.A., Miller, J.Z, et al., 2018, Quantifying vulnerability of Antarctic ice shelves to hydrofracture using microwave scattering properties, Remote Sensing of Environment, 210, pp. 297-306, 10.1016/j.rse.2018.03.025.
Hubbard, B., Luckman, A., Ashmore, D., et al., 2016, Massive subsurface ice formed by refreezing of ice-shelf melt ponds, Nature Communications, 7, 11897, 10.1038/ncomms11897
Hubbard, B., Tison, J., Philippe, M., et al., 2013, Ice shelf density reconstructed from optical televiewer borehole logging, Geophysical Research Letters, 22, 40, pp. 5882-5887, 10.1002/2013GL058023
Hubbard, B., Roberson, S., Samyn, D., and Merton-Lyn, D., 2008, Digital optical televiewing of ice boreholes, Journal of Glaciology, 188, 54, pp. 823-830, 10.3189/002214308787779988
Kuipers Munneke P., Ligtenberg S.R.M., Van Den Broeke M.R., and Vaughan D.G., 2014, Firn air depletion as a precursor of Antarctic ice-shelf collapse, Journal of Glaciology, 60, 220, pp. 205-214, 10.3189/2014JoG13J183
Scambos T., Fricker H.A., Liu C.-C.C., et al, 2009, Ice shelf disintegration by plate bending and hydro-fracture: Satellite observations and model results of the 2008 Wilkins ice shelf break-ups, Earth Planetary Science Letters, 280, pp. 51-60, 10.1016/j.epsl.2008.12.027
Verjans, V., Leeson, A. A., Stevens, C. M., et al, 2019, Development of physically based liquid water schemes for Greenland firn-densification models, The Cryosphere, 13, 1819–1842, 10.5194/tc-13-1819-2019
Rename the referee form with your ‘Name and Reference’, e.g., Joe Bloggs Reference. Send the renamed reference form to two referees and request them to forward the referee document to lec.pgr.applications@lancaster.ac.uk
Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted. It is important that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
Dr Luke Parry and Dr Emma Cardwell, Human Geography, Lancaster Environment CentreandHeloisa Pereira, Mamiraua Institute for Sustainable Development
Project Description
This project explores educational resilience to climate extremes in Brazil, focusing on Amazonian school communities affected by severe droughts and floods. While education is crucial for climate adaptation, it is often disrupted by climate shocks. Existing research tends to portray school communities as passive victims, overlooking their agency in shaping resilience. Instead, this study adopts a Freire-inspired, activist approach, viewing resilience as a negotiated process shaped by social struggles, politics, and local realities. Using critical pedagogy, the project positions schools as spaces for dialogue, action, and resistance. It aims to understand how Amazonian rural schools navigate climate challenges and to develop policy recommendations for strengthening their adaptive capacities. Using mixed methods, the research examines local perspectives on resilience, emergent community responses, and the conditions that enable or hinder resilience-building. Fieldwork in six communities in the Brazilian Amazon, hosted by the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development.
General eligibility criteria
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are all distinctly advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course. However, applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background.
Project specific criteria
The ideal candidate will have an interest in neglected geographies, climate extremes, education, and social justice.
Studentship funding
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
Enquiries
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Dr Luke Parry luke.parry@lancaster.ac.uk for more information.
Dates
Deadline for applications: 24 March 2025
Provisional Interview Date: April-May 2025
Start Date: October 2025
Further reading
Feinstein, N. W., & Mach, K. J. (2020). Three roles for education in climate change adaptation. Climate policy, 20(3), 317-322.
Harris, L. M., Chu, E. K., & Ziervogel, G. (2018). Negotiated resilience. Resilience, 6(3), 196-214.
Prentice, C. M., Vergunst, F., Minor, K., & Berry, H. L. (2024). Education outcomes in the era of global climate change. Nature Climate Change, 14(3), 214-224.
Santos de Lima, L., Silva, F. E. O. E., Dorio Anastácio, P. R., Kolanski, M. M. D. P., Pires Pereira, A. C., Menezes, M. S. R., ... & Macedo, M. N. (2024). Severe droughts reduce river navigability and isolate communities in the Brazilian Amazon. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1), 370.
Rename the referee form with your ‘Name and Reference’, e.g., Joe Bloggs Reference. Send the renamed reference form to two referees and request them to forward the referee document to lec.pgr.applications@lancaster.ac.uk
Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted. It is important that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
Pendle Hill holds a central position in the cultural imaginary of East Lancashire. Whilst contemporary understanding of the witch trials suggests misogyny, religious bigotry and working class repression, locally this cultural heritage is levied to attract tourists and engender community identity.
In the shadow of Pendle Hill, lies a series of deindustrialised towns with high rates of unemployment, child poverty and ethnic segregation. Many young women who grow up in sight of Pendle Hill live without recourse or resources to visit, therefore understand the landscape through cultural interpretation rather than direct experience. To what extent does engagement with this landscape inform local young women's perceptions of emplacement and belonging? And how might this knowledge be used to improve the lives of children and young people in the area?
This research will bring together young women (aged 12- 15) from Pendle and Burnley in East Lancashire using creative methods to support youth-centred and participatory research with a focus on impactful dissemination.
General eligibility criteria
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are all distinctly advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course. However, applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background.
Project specific criteria
The ideal candidate will have an interest in social and cultural geography, research with young people and creative methods.
Studentship funding
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
Enquiries
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Nadia von Benzon (n.r.vonbenzon@lancaster.ac.uk) for more information.
Dates
Deadline for applications: 24 March 2025
Provisional Interview Date: April-May 2025
Start Date: October 2025
Further reading
Anderson, J. (2010), Understanding Cultural Geography, Routledge
von Benzon, N. et al. (2021), Creative Methods for Human Geographers, SAGE
Thomas Aneurin Smith et al., (2022), Unfamiliar Landscapes: Young People and Diverse Outdoor Experience, Palgrave Macmillan
Rename the referee form with your ‘Name and Reference’, e.g., Joe Bloggs Reference. Send the renamed reference form to two referees and request them to forward the referee document to lec.pgr.applications@lancaster.ac.uk
Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted. It is important that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
Dr Samuel Taylor, Dr Marjorie Lundgren, Dr Gemma Fenwick and Professor Nick Graham
Project Description
Seagrasses are unique flowering plants that inhabit marine environments. Aquatic flowering plants like seagrasses evolved from land-dwelling ancestors by adapting to low availability of dissolved CO2, and light extinguishing effects of water and suspended sediment. Among some land-dwelling relatives of the seagrasses, low availability of atmospheric CO2 and transitions to bright, open habitats in warm environments prompted evolutionary explosions in diversity of photosynthetic carbon-concentrating mechanisms that have shaped the ecological structure and function of savannah and tropical grassland ecosystems. Your research will ask whether similar patterns of diversity in photosynthesis have arisen in seagrasses as they evolved to dominate specific marine systems under pressure from low CO2 availability. Using evidence from a variety of ecosystems around the world, in the UK, and locally in Morecambe Bay, you will address two major questions. 1) Is there photosynthetic diversity in major seagrass lineages? 2) What contribution does photosynthetic efficiency make to distribution and ecological success of seagrasses?
General eligibility criteria
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are all distinctly advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course. However, applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background.
Project specific criteria
The ideal candidate will have an interest in photosynthesis and marine biology. Diving experience is desirable.
Studentship funding
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
Enquiries
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Samuel Taylor s.taylor19@lancaster.ac.uk for more information.
Dates
Deadline for applications: 24 March 2025
Provisional Interview Date: April-May 2025
Start Date: October 2025
Further reading
Papenbrock, J. (2012) Highlights in Seagrasses’ Phylogeny, Physiology, and Metabolism: What Makes Them Special. International Scholarly Research Notices. Article 103892: 1-15 https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/103892
Rename the referee form with your ‘Name and Reference’, e.g., Joe Bloggs Reference. Send the renamed reference form to two referees and request them to forward the referee document to lec.pgr.applications@lancaster.ac.uk
Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted. It is important that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
Dr Suzana Ilic (Earth Science & Physical Geography, LEC)
Dr Thomas Jones (Earth Science & Physical Geography, LEC)
Dr Natalia Lipiejko (Earth Science & Physical Geography, LEC)
Project Description
Wind/air blown particle transport is ubiquitous in many industrial processes and natural environments. Natural examples include wind-blown dune formation and erosion, and the remobilization of volcanic ash. These processes directly impact the resilience of natural coastal defences (dunes), degrade air quality, and pose aviation risks by dispersing volcanic ash into the atmosphere.
To forecast and mitigate against these processes we need to understand the critical wind conditions (e.g., wind speeds/shear) required for particle transport. In this PhD project you will perform a series of laboratory investigations in the multi-million-pound Geophysical Fluid Dynamics labs at Lancaster. You will use a novel set of shear-cell tests under different humid atmospheres to directly measure the cohesive strengths, and thus the critical wind shear required for particle transport. You will have the opportunity to conduct fieldwork, engage with stakeholders, and run numerical models to compare to the lab-based tests to real-world scenarios and disseminate the impact of project results.
General eligibility criteria
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are all distinctly advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course. However, applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background.
Project specific criteria
The ideal candidate will have an interest in laboratory experimentation and have a desire to conduct interdisciplinary science bridging elements of physics with the physical earth/environmental sciences. A specific subject background is not required, and the studentship will offer training support. As such we welcome students with a backgrounds including, but not limited to Earth/Environmental science, Engineering and Physics.
Studentship funding
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
Enquiries
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Dr Suzana Ilic s.ilic@lancaster.ac.uk for more information.
Dates
Deadline for applications: 24 March 2025
Provisional Interview Date: April-May 2025
Start Date: October 2025
Further reading
Besnard, J.B., Dupont, P., El Moctar, A.O. and Valance, A., 2022. Aeolian erosion thresholds for cohesive sand. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 127(11), p.e2022JF006803.
Pähtz, T., Clark, A.H., Valyrakis, M. and Durán, O., 2020. The physics of sediment transport initiation, cessation, and entrainment across aeolian and fluvial environments. Reviews of Geophysics, 58(1), p.e2019RG000679.
Liu, E.J., Cashman, K.V., Beckett, F.M., Witham, C.S., Leadbetter, S.J., Hort, M.C. and Guðmundsson, S., 2014. Ash mists and brown snow: Remobilization of volcanic ash from recent Icelandic eruptions. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 119(15), pp.9463-9480.
Lipiejko, N. and Jones, T.J., 2024. Permeability of granular mixtures under shear. Powder Technology, 444, p.120064.
Rename the referee form with your ‘Name and Reference’, e.g., Joe Bloggs Reference. Send the renamed reference form to two referees and request them to forward the referee document to lec.pgr.applications@lancaster.ac.uk
Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted. It is important that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
Current PhD Opportunities - Envision Doctoral Training Partnership accordion
Blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides) is Western Europe’s most problematic weed. The strong selective pressures imposed by modern agriculture have sculpted blackgrass biology to such an extent that it is found almost exclusively within agricultural fields. This human-driven evolution has rendered conventional weed control strategies ineffective, and we urgently need innovative alternatives to regain control and reduce the harm that blackgrass causes in the UK’s agricultural ecosystems.
To meet this need, we will explore the natural soil microbiome looking for microbes that can control herbicide-resistant blackgrass and in doing so uncover a greener way to control weeds.
Our preliminary laboratory data shows that microbes from the UK Crop Microbiome Cryobank can significantly reduce blackgrass seedling growth. Excitingly, these isolates do not similarly reduce the growth of key blackgrass-infested crops (wheat, barley). This PhD project will build on these promising findings and work toward developing these soil microbes as environmentally-friendly, biocontrol agents or sources of natural products to suppress herbicide-resistant weeds.
By understanding how these microbes specifically repress blackgrass, this PhD presents a novel route to enhance food security and solve the blackgrass problem, a solution that arable farmers so desperately need. This PhD will build better biocontrol of blackgrass.
We commit to providing personalised mentorship, and opportunities to build research, project management, writing and presentation skills. We will accommodate diverse needs so everyone can participate safely, fully and equally in research activities. At Rothamsted, the PhD candidate will be fully embedded within the Weed Molecular Biology team and closely liaise with the Soil Microbiology team and at Lancaster University, the Dodd lab. The PhD candidate will receive training and guidance in all required skills and techniques and obtain well-rounded training on a contemporary environmental science research project which can act as a springboard for a career in research.
Eligibility/Entry requirements
This project is only open to UK “home” applicants.
Candidates shall be good honours graduates in appropriate subject areas, of a recognised University or comparable University, or persons holding equivalent qualifications who show evidence of exceptional ability, or who have demonstrated their ability in graduate studies.
We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. Our graduates come from a diverse range of backgrounds and ethnicities and Envision strives to ensure that no applicant/student shall experience prejudice at admissions or during their studies, related to their sexuality, disability or any other protected characteristic.
Please note that any applicant who has previously completed an Envision Research Experience Placement (REP) will be guaranteed an interview for the Envision project that they apply to.
Contact for enquiries
This project will be based at Rothamsted Research with Dr Dana MacGregor.
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join a cutting-edge project investigating the impact of environmental changes on cold-stunning events in Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, the world’s most endangered sea turtle species. Cold-stunning, a hypothermic condition caused by extreme drops in temperature, is increasing in frequency and severity, posing significant risks to an already vulnerable species.
This interdisciplinary research will integrate historical and contemporary data with innovative modelling techniques to predict cold-stunning events and inform conservation strategies. Studying cold-stunning offers unique insights into the interplay between extreme weather events, physiological limits, and migratory behaviours, helping us understand species resilience and vulnerability in the face of climate change.
The project includes fieldwork, data collection from historical and current datasets, animal modelling (morphological and physiological), and climate and oceanic physical modelling. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with an international team, ensuring comprehensive data capture across the North Atlantic. By bridging multiple disciplines, this research aims to advance our understanding of the physiological impacts of climate change on marine species and contribute to the conservation of one of the planet’s most at-risk species.
Eligibility/Entry requirements
This project is only open to UK “home” applicants.
We welcome applications from candidates with a strong interest in marine biology, ecology, conservation science, or a related field. Experience with fieldwork, data analysis, or modelling is advantageous but not required. The ideal candidate will have a passion for interdisciplinary and computer based research and a commitment to addressing pressing conservation challenges. Candidates shall be good honours graduates in appropriate subject areas, of a recognised university or comparable university, or persons holding equivalent qualifications who show evidence of exceptional ability, or who have demonstrated their ability in graduate studies. Candidates from minority backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply, as we value diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive research environment.
We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. Our graduates come from a diverse range of backgrounds and ethnicities and Envision strives to ensure that no applicant/student shall experience prejudice at admissions or during their studies related to their sexuality, disability or any other protected characteristic.
Please note that any applicant who completed an Envision Research Experience Placement (REP) within the past 12 months will be guaranteed an interview for the Envision project that they apply to.
Contact for enquiries
This project will be based at the University of Nottingham with Dr Ylenia Chiari
Ten percent of the world’s population (i.e. 100s of millions) live within 100 km of an active volcano. During all explosive volcanic eruptions pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) can form – high temperature mixtures of rock and gas that rapidly flow away from the volcanic vent. These phenomena are the most lethal of all volcanic hazards and are responsible for more than a third of volcanic related fatalities globally. The most common type of pyroclastic density current – block and ash flows (BAFs) occur when lava flows or domes collapse. These collapses and BAFs often occur repeatedly during times of volcanic unrest and are thus cause prolonged evacuation orders and community disruption.
We currently lack adequate knowledge of the underlying flow physics to accurately forecast these flows, thus any hazard maps and mitigation strategies currently produced are inherently limited. To improve our model forecasts, we need to understand the complex internal flow dynamics within these ‘opaque’ and hazardous flows. A key knowledge gap, specifically to be addressed by this project, is determining how ambient cold air is entrained into BAFs during their transport. This entrained air leads to enhanced flow mobility (increasing flow runout distances) and modifies their thermal structure (changing their impact).
Within this project you will (1) have the opportunity to conduct fieldwork on Mt Meager, Canada to unravel the range of particle properties transported within natural BAFs; (2) perform laboratory experiments to understand how, and the rates at which, ambient air is entrained; (3) calculate the thermal evolution of BAFs and resulting temperature profiles; (4) integrate this new quantitative flow knowledge into volcanic hazard maps in partnership with Natural Resources Canada.
Eligibility/Entry requirements
This project is only open to UK “home” applicants.
Candidates shall be good honours graduates in appropriate subject areas, of a recognised university or comparable university, or persons holding equivalent qualifications who show evidence of exceptional ability, or who have demonstrated their ability in graduate studies. Candidates from minority backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply, as we value diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive research environment.
We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. Our graduates come from a diverse range of backgrounds and ethnicities and Envision strives to ensure that no applicant/student shall experience prejudice at admissions or during their studies related to their sexuality, disability or any other protected characteristic.
Please note that any applicant who completed an Envision Research Experience Placement (REP) within the past 12 months will be guaranteed an interview for the Envision project that they apply to.
Contact for enquiries
This project will be based at Lancaster university with Dr Thomas Jones.
Amphibians are among the most threatened vertebrate groups globally, facing a dual crisis of climate change and emerging infectious diseases. Salamanders, especially those in the biodiversity-rich Appalachian Mountains (USA), are at high risk due to climate-linked habitat loss and chytrid fungal pathogens (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis [Bd] and B. salamandrivorans [Bsal]). Bd is already widespread in Appalachia and has caused significant declines. Salamanders are more susceptible to Bsal but it has not yet been introduced to North America, and its arrival would likely result in catastrophic losses. These threats are closely linked, as temperature influences chytrid pathogen dynamics and host immune responses.
This PhD project, based at Bangor University in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (USA), the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UK) and the University of Aberdeen (UK), will address these challenges by combining cutting-edge approaches in molecular biology, disease ecology and spatial modelling. The successful candidate will explore how climate-driven changes in temperature and habitat influence chytrid disease dynamics, salamander immune function, and microbiome composition. The project will also identify practical, low-cost strategies—such as habitat manipulation—to reduce disease risks.
With opportunities to conduct extensive fieldwork in the Appalachian Mountains, this project offers invaluable experience in one of the world’s key amphibian biodiversity hotspots. You will gain skills in advanced spatial modelling, laboratory techniques, bioinformatics and conservation-focused field research, working alongside leading experts as part of an international collaboration.
Eligibility/Entry requirements
This project is only open to UK “home” applicants.
Candidates shall be good honours graduates in Biology or a related area of a recognised university or comparable university, or persons holding equivalent qualifications who show evidence of exceptional ability, or who have demonstrated their ability in graduate studies. They shall have good numeracy skills and be eager develop a diverse skillset. The ideal candidate will be passionate and enthusiastic about disease ecology and tackling global biodiversity challenges and excited about contributing to applied conservation science.
Candidates from minority backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply, as we value diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive research environment.
We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. Our graduates come from a diverse range of backgrounds and ethnicities and Envision strives to ensure that no applicant/student shall experience prejudice at admissions or during their studies related to their sexuality, disability or any other protected characteristic.
Please note that any applicant who completed an Envision Research Experience Placement (REP) within the past 12 months will be guaranteed an interview for the Envision project that they apply to.
Contact for enquiries
This project will be based at Bangor University. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the lead supervisor Owen Osborne (o.osborne@bangor.ac.uk) before applying with any informal enquiries or to discuss the project.
Select the project you wish to apply for. You can make informal enquiries to the project supervisors if you wish. Please ensure that you check the application deadline dates and eligibility criteria.
Complete your application by following the links to the application form. At this stage, you are able to apply for more than one advertised project if you wish.
After the closing date, the Department will consider all applications. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. Interviews can be arranged by Skype or telephone. The timescale for this will vary but is in the region of 4 weeks.
If you are successful at interview for the studentship, you will be invited to formally apply via the admissions portal online. This ensures that you receive a formal offer of admission. Please submit one application only, and state the studentship that you have applied for in the source of funding section.
Once a formal offer has been made, you will need to check the conditions in your offer letter and supply any outstanding documents by the required deadlines. If your offer is unconditional then this will not apply to you.
You will find yourself taking advantage of several laboratory facilities at Lancaster Environment Centre. There are our £4.4 million Teaching Labs, for example, as well as specialist facilities for Environmental Chemistry, Noble Gas, and Plant and Soil Ecology.
Research Facilities
There are no fewer than 15 purpose-built glasshouse modules, 16 controlled environment plant growth rooms, 4 solar domes based at the Hazelrigg Weather Station and a suite of ultraviolet radiation research facilities that can truly claim to be world-class.
Field Sites
You could find yourself working at a range of catchment science sites across England and Wales, including the local River Eden Valley, or they can travel much further afield to the tropical forests of the Amazon and Borneo.
Cutting-Edge Technologies
You can be trained to use a range of equipment, such as our Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer Facility, X-ray CT Scanner, Magnetometer or the LI-COR Portable Photosynthesis System, which has the capacity to measure plant gas exchange with exceptional speed and precision.
Rich Data Resources
Dedicated support staff with expertise in GIS, statistics, modelling, information technology and programming are available to provide specialist training in all aspects of data acquisition, processing and analysis.
Other methods of applying for a PhD
Studying for a research degree is a highly rewarding and challenging process. You'll work to become a leading expert in your topic area with regular contact and close individual supervision with your supervisor.
If you have your own research idea, we can help you to develop it. To begin this process you will need to find a PhD Supervisor from one of our research groups, whose research interests align with your own.
You can also apply for a PhD from one of the Doctoral Training Centres and Partnerships that work with the Graduate School for the Environment. Details of each of the Training Centres are provided here.
