University of Leeds
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PhD in Prioritising Conservation Planning Amid Climate Uncertainty University of Leeds in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Fully funded NERC studentship through the UNRISK CDT. Funding covers full university tuition fees, a personal stipend at standard UKRI rates, £6000 for individual research and training costs, £5000 cohort-level training, and a Flexible Fund for special projects. International applicants must cover visa application costs and the international health surcharge (IHS).
Deadline
Jan 13, 2027
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Leeds
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About this position
PhD opportunity at the University of Leeds on Prioritising Conservation Planning Amid Climate Uncertainty.
This project sits within the UNRISK CDT and focuses on how to prioritise habitats for conservation when decisions must account for biodiversity loss, climate change, and uncertainty in ecological and climate data. The research combines ecology, climate science, data science, mathematical modelling, and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to build an adaptive framework for conservation policy.
You will investigate: stakeholder priorities and criteria for conservation decisions; how habitats should be evaluated using ecological value, climate impact, cost, and interdependency; and how uncertainty in climate projections, ecological data, and preferences can be handled using simulation-based stochastic MCDA. The project aims to produce an open-source database of conservation criteria and stakeholder preferences, plus an interactive decision-support tool for policymakers.
Funding: fully funded NERC studentship with full tuition, UKRI-rate stipend, research and training costs, cohort training support, and a flexible fund. International applicants are welcome, but awards are limited by UKRI rules and visa/IHS costs must be covered by the student.
Eligibility: background in ecology, conservation, or climate science; prior academic writing experience; strong interest in conservation; programming/data skills in R or Python are desirable. The team especially encourages applicants from LMIC countries.
Location: Leeds, United Kingdom.
Application: applications are open now via the FindAPhD listing/UNRISK route. Review the project details and funding notes before applying.
Funding details
Fully funded NERC studentship through the UNRISK CDT. Funding covers full university tuition fees, a personal stipend at standard UKRI rates, £6000 for individual research and training costs, £5000 cohort-level training, and a Flexible Fund for special projects. International applicants must cover visa application costs and the international health surcharge (IHS).
What's required
Applicants should have previous exposure to academic writing, a strong interest in conservation, and a background in ecology, conservation, or climate science. Programming and data management skills are desired, preferably in R or Python. The post encourages international students from LMIC countries to apply. Applications are open to UK and international applicants, though international awards are limited by UKRI rules.
How to apply
Apply through the FindAPhD/UNRISK application route and review the UNRISK website for full details. Check eligibility, funding conditions, and international award limits before submitting. Prepare evidence of academic writing, conservation interest, and relevant background in ecology, conservation, or climate science.
More information can be found here
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