[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 PhD studentship at Newcastle University addresses the urgent need for reliable, high-resolution rainfall data to improve flood prediction, climate adaptation, and infrastructure resilience in the UK. Climate change is causing more frequent and intense rainfall events, challenging current flood risk management strategies.

Existing rainfall datasets are either inaccurate or too sparse to capture localised storms, making advanced flood prediction difficult. The project aims to develop a new blended UK precipitation dataset with high temporal (15-minute) and spatial resolution by integrating data from tipping bucket rain gauges, weather radar, and satellites. The student will employ robust coding and data science techniques to build a comprehensive quality control framework, identifying and correcting errors, applying bias adjustments, and assessing data quality. Advanced multisource blending methods, such as kriging, probabilistic merging, and machine learning, will be used to combine datasets and preserve extreme events.

Uncertainty will be explicitly quantified, and the resulting open-access dataset will support advanced flood risk modelling, hydrological predictions, and adaptation planning. The student will work within Newcastle University’s Water and Climate Research Group and collaborate with partners like the UK Environment Agency and the Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure (FDRI). The project offers a fully funded studentship, covering 100% of fees and providing a minimum annual tax-free living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate), with additional project costs covered.

Applicants must hold or expect to obtain at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject, such as computing, mathematics, or engineering. Strong analytical, independent research, and communication skills are essential. Both home and international applicants are eligible, with full studentship support available. Non-native English speakers require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all sub-skills), and international applicants may need ATAS clearance.

The studentship starts on 1st October 2026 and lasts 3.5 years. For more information, a prospective applicant webinar will be held, and interested candidates are encouraged to contact Prof Hayley Fowler. Applications close on 8th January 2026.