PhD Studentship – Deliberative Approaches to Farm System Climate Adaptation in the Usk Valley University of Gloucestershire in United Kingdom

[£20,780 stipend for 2025/26, tax exempt. Fully funded Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences ESRC DTP studentship.]

The University of Gloucestershire’s Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) is offering a fully funded PhD studentship focused on deliberative approaches to farm system climate adaptation in the Usk Valley. CCRI is internationally recognised for its research in agri-food, land-based business, and sustainable rural community development, with a strong emphasis on resilience, innovation, and transformation. This PhD will contribute to a growing body of work within CCRI, developing new methodologies to engage farmers and rural communities in debating and creating practical solutions for climate change.

The project is funded through the Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership, connecting scholars and PhD students across Wales who are actively working on rural resilience topics. The successful candidate will join a vibrant community of researchers and have access to collaborative opportunities with the Welsh Government and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

The PhD aims to: (1) understand the perceived impacts of climate change on farms and their business models in the River Usk catchment; (2) use qualitative and catchment-level climate data to develop strategies for climate adaptation at farm and catchment scales, employing deliberative methods and serious games such as Climate Fresk; and (3) share findings with rural policy advisors and validate a climate adaptation game for Welsh farming systems. The project will leverage the farming community’s tacit knowledge and local climate data to translate everyday farming realities into actionable adaptation strategies.

The supervisory team includes Professor Damian Maye, Dr Philippa Simmonds, and Dr Aimee Morse from CCRI, University of Gloucestershire, as well as Dr Sarah Jones (Welsh Government) and Professor Bridget Emmett (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology). The studentship offers a stipend of £20,780 for 2025/26 (tax exempt) and is fully funded by the WGSSS ESRC DTP.

Applicants should have a relevant undergraduate or master’s degree in environmental science, agriculture, geography, sociology, or a related field, and demonstrate a strong interest in rural resilience, climate adaptation, and participatory research methods. Applications must be submitted by midnight on 6 May 2026, including all required documents. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. For further information and to apply, visit the University of Gloucestershire’s job portal or contact Chris Rayfield at [email protected], referencing 2022 072 04 Application.

This opportunity is ideal for candidates passionate about environmental planning, rural community engagement, and innovative approaches to climate adaptation in agricultural systems.