The Grantham Institute at Imperial College London is inviting applications for fully funded PhD positions in climate change, environmental science, and related engineering disciplines. These opportunities are part of the Grantham PhD programme, which supports research projects across a wide range of topics including climate change mitigation, environmental protection, carbon capture, crop protection, ocean mixing, tropical cyclone modeling, and more. The Institute is a leading hub for interdisciplinary research and innovation in climate and environment, offering a vibrant PhD network and access to world-class facilities.

PhD projects are available under the supervision of leading academics such as Dr Xiangkun (Elvis) Cao (Mechanical Engineering), Dr Adrien Lefauve (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Professor Firat Guder (Bioengineering), Dr Sonja Billerbeck (Chemistry), Dr Alex Whittaker (Earth Science and Engineering), Dr Tiago Dias da Costa (Life Sciences), Dr Giorgio Gilestro (Life Sciences), Professor Tolga Bozkurt (Life Sciences), Dr Jingwen Weng (Materials), Professor Ralf Toumi (Physics), and Dr Judite Goncalves (Public Health). Research areas span smart photonic systems for solar-driven carbon capture, laboratory investigation of ocean mixing, high-throughput plant phenotyping, next-gen biological crop protection, behavioral toxicology, AI-guided crop immunity, geothermal materials, and global cyclone modeling.

The studentship provides 3.5 years of funding, covering home tuition fees at the UKRI indicative rate (£5,006 per annum for 2025/26), a maintenance stipend of £22,780 per annum (2025/26), and up to £5,000 for research expenses. Both home and international candidates are welcome to apply, though international students must cover any additional tuition costs not included in the award unless exceptionally covered by the department. The Grantham Institute fosters a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment, connecting PhD students with the NERC-funded Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet Doctoral Training Partnership (SSCP DTP) and offering extensive training and cohort opportunities.

Applicants should have or expect to obtain a first-class or upper second-class degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject such as engineering, environmental science, physics, chemistry, biology, or related fields. A strong academic record, research interest in climate change or environmental topics, and proficiency in English are required. Early drafts of the statement of purpose are acceptable at this stage. For specific project requirements and application instructions, candidates should consult the project PDFs available on the Grantham Institute website.

The deadline for applications is 12 January 2026. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr Xiangkun (Elvis) Cao via email ([email protected]) for further information and to discuss potential research interests. For general queries, contact [email protected]. Imperial College London is recognized as a world-leading university for science, technology, engineering, medicine, and business, and offers an outstanding environment for doctoral research in climate and environmental sciences.