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Lancaster University

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Fully Funded PhD Opportunities in Polar and Alpine Science, Glaciology, and Exascale Computing at Lancaster University Lancaster University in United Kingdom

Fully Funded PhD Opportunities in Polar and Alpine Science, Glaciology, and Exascale Computing at Lancaster University

Lancaster University

United Kingdom

Jan 9, 2026

Keywords

Computer Science
Data Science
Environmental Science
Remote Sensing
Mathematics
Geography
Hydrology
Glaciology
Earth Science
Cryosphere Science
Exascale Computing
Polar Science
Statistics
Physics
Machinelearning
Climatechange

Description

Exciting fully funded PhD opportunities are available to join the Polar and Alpine Science Group at Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University. The group focuses on advancing understanding of ice-climate interactions, glaciology, and environmental change using Earth observation, geophysical modelling, fieldwork, and data science techniques. Research areas include ice mass and elevation changes, supraglacial and subglacial hydrology, ice shelf stability, and the impacts of extreme Arctic events, with a strong emphasis on the application of exascale computing and machine learning to environmental and climate science. There are three fully funded PhD studentships available through the NERC Doctoral Landscape Award in Exascale Computing for Earth, Environmental, and Sustainability Solutions, and three more through the Net Zero Polar Science Doctoral Training Programme. Projects cover topics such as Antarctic and Arctic ice loss, high-resolution satellite data analysis, GPU-accelerated firn modelling, near-real-time monitoring of supraglacial lake drainage, dynamic ice sheet hydrology for sustainable energy, and low-carbon satellite monitoring of Greenland's lakes. Successful candidates will join a vibrant glaciology community and have opportunities to collaborate with leading scientists and international agencies, including the European Space Agency. Applicants should have a strong background in physical sciences, environmental science, earth sciences, geography, engineering, computer science, mathematics, or related quantitative disciplines. Experience with geospatial data, remote sensing, data analysis, programming, or hydrological modelling is desirable but not essential. A UK 2:1 Honours degree or equivalent is normally expected, but relevant experience through non-traditional routes is also considered. The programme encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds and offers multidisciplinary training with supervisory teams from computational, domain, and environmental science backgrounds. Funding is fully provided, covering tuition fees, a stipend, and a Research Training Support Grant. Both UK and international students are eligible. The application deadline for the NERC Doctoral Landscape Award is 9 January 2026, and for the Net Zero Polar Science DTP is 7 January 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the provided programme links or contact the lead supervisors: Professor Mal McMillan, Dr Amber Leeson, and Dr Katie Miles at Lancaster University. For further details about the research group and projects, see the Polar and Alpine Science Group page at Lancaster University and the doctoral training programme websites.

Funding

These are fully funded PhD studentships covering tuition fees, a stipend, and a Research Training Support Grant. Funding is provided through the NERC Doctoral Landscape Award in Exascale Computing for Earth, Environmental, and Sustainability Solutions and the Net Zero Polar Science Doctoral Training Programme. Both UK and international students are eligible. Stipend amount is not specified in the post.

How to apply

Apply via the relevant doctoral training programme links provided. Select up to three projects and submit your application before the stated deadlines. Contact the listed lead supervisors for project-specific queries. Ensure all required documents are included in your application.

Requirements

Applicants should have a strong academic background in physical sciences, environmental science, earth sciences, geography, engineering, computer science, mathematics, or related quantitative disciplines. Experience with geospatial data, remote sensing, data analysis, programming (Python, GIS, Matlab), or hydrological modelling is desirable but not essential. A UK 2:1 Honours degree or equivalent is normally expected, but relevant experience through non-traditional routes is also considered. Enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research, willingness to learn new computational and analytical skills, and ability to work collaboratively are important. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

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