PhD Studentship: Forest Carbon Project Exposure to Wildfire – Global Patterns and Evolving Risk under Climate Change (CASE project with BeZero Carbon Limited) University of East Anglia in United Kingdom

[£20,780 studentship funding available.] This PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia, in partnership with BeZero Carbon Limited, investigates the exposure of forest carbon projects to wildfire risk on a global scale and how this risk evolves under climate change. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is a cornerstone of future emission scenarios and climate policies aiming for net zero by 2050, with forest-based carbon projects playing a major role through afforestation and reforestation. However, the permanence and effectiveness of these projects are threatened by disturbances such as wildfires, which can significantly reduce their long-term carbon sequestration potential. Despite their importance, there is a lack of comprehensive data and understanding regarding the current and future impact of wildfires on forest carbon projects. This project aims to address this knowledge gap by compiling a global database of ongoing and planned carbon project boundaries, building on an existing dataset of approximately 3,000 projects from BeZero Carbon Ltd. The research will evaluate the effects of wildfire on these projects since 2000 using the Global Fire Atlas, assess the net benefit of carbon projects by considering ecosystem recovery after fire, and use climate projections to predict future changes in wildfire exposure at different global warming levels (1.5–4.0°C). The findings will inform prototype estimates of buffer pool sizes needed to insure against future fire risk, tailored to specific regions. The ideal candidate will have a strong quantitative background, essential experience in geospatial analysis (GIS), and preferably programming skills in R or Python. Applicants should hold at least a UK 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in a numerate, computational, or environmental discipline. The studentship offers £20,780 in funding and is open for full- or part-time study, with a start date of 1 October 2026. The application deadline is 7 January 2025. This is an excellent opportunity for candidates interested in climate change, environmental science, and quantitative research to contribute to a critical area of global climate policy and forest management.