This fully funded PhD studentship at Newcastle University, supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Environment Agency, investigates the impacts of drought on the UK’s flood defence levee network. With climate change intensifying both droughts and extreme rainfall, the resilience of levees is increasingly threatened by soil drying, shrinkage, cracking, and the weakening of protective grass cover. The project aims to understand how these environmental stressors compromise levee integrity and to develop innovative methods for assessing and monitoring asset health. You will work at the intersection of climate science, geotechnical engineering, remote sensing, and asset management, integrating national datasets such as UK Climate Projections, Environment Agency asset records, and satellite imagery with field investigations. The research will identify vulnerable regions and elucidate surface deterioration processes, contributing to future levee design, inspection, and maintenance strategies. The studentship offers hands-on experience in spatial analysis, fieldwork, soil and vegetation monitoring, and potentially numerical modelling. Collaboration with the Environment Agency ensures that your findings will have direct policy and practical impact, helping to build climate resilience into critical flood infrastructure. You will join a vibrant research environment with links to national agencies and research groups, including the British Geological Survey and Newcastle University. The project is ideal for candidates with backgrounds in hydrology, geotechnical engineering, soil/environmental science, or remote sensing. Applicants must hold or expect to obtain at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline, demonstrate enthusiasm for research, independent thinking, analytical skills, and strong communication abilities. Both home and international applicants are eligible for the full studentship, which covers 100% tuition fees and provides a minimum annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate), plus additional project costs. English language proficiency (IELTS 6.5 overall, minimum 5.5 in all sub-skills) is required for non-native speakers. The application deadline is January 8, 2026, with the studentship commencing October 1, 2026. For more information, a prospective applicant webinar is available. To apply, use the Newcastle University portal, select the relevant programme, and provide the required documentation and studentship code.

[100% fees covered and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate). Additional project costs provided. Full studentship for home and international applicants.] This fully funded PhD studentship at Newcastle University investigates the impacts of drought on the UK’s extensive levee network, focusing on asset health and resilience in the face of climate change. As droughts and extreme rainfall events intensify, levees face new threats beyond flood overtopping, including soil shrinkage, cracking, and degradation of protective vegetation. The project aims to understand how these environmental stressors compromise levee integrity and to develop innovative methods for assessing and monitoring their effects. You will work at the intersection of climate science, geotechnical engineering, remote sensing, and asset management, integrating national datasets such as UK Climate Projections, Environment Agency asset records, and satellite imagery with field investigations. The research will identify vulnerable regions and elucidate surface deterioration processes, providing valuable insights for future levee design, inspection, and maintenance strategies. The studentship offers hands-on experience in spatial analysis, fieldwork, soil and vegetation monitoring, and potentially numerical modelling. Collaboration with the Environment Agency ensures that your findings will have direct impact on national flood infrastructure policy and practice. The project is ideal for candidates with backgrounds in hydrology, geotechnical engineering, soil/environmental science, or remote sensing, and offers opportunities to engage with national agencies and research groups including the British Geological Survey and the Environment Agency. The successful applicant will join a vibrant research community at Newcastle University, contributing to the protection of communities and critical infrastructure in a changing climate. The studentship covers 100% of tuition fees and provides a minimum annual tax-free living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate), with additional project costs supported. Both home and international applicants are eligible, provided they meet the academic and language requirements. The application deadline is 8th January 2026, with the programme starting on 1st October 2026. For further details and to apply, visit the Newcastle University funding portal or contact Dr Ross Stirling. A prospective applicant webinar will be held on 26th November for those seeking more information.