PhD Studentship in Environmental Science: Pollen-based Reconstruction of Holocene Climates of Africa University of Reading in United Kingdom

[Funding for 3.5 years, stipend (£20,780 p.a) and international fees via Horizon Europe, Synergy grant 'Ecological Archaeologies of the Afrotropics (EcoArch)', project 101224871.]

The University of Reading invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship in Environmental Science, focusing on pollen-based reconstruction of Holocene climates of Africa. This interdisciplinary project aims to use pollen records from lake and bog sediments to quantitatively reconstruct climate changes across Africa over the past 12,000 years. By applying advanced statistical and computational approaches to existing palaeoenvironmental databases, the successful candidate will investigate how climate variability has impacted vegetation productivity and the human resource base, providing insights into the adoption of agriculture and broader ecological changes.

The PhD student will join the SPECIAL group, an active research team within Geography and Environmental Science at Reading, and collaborate with international partners in the EcoArch project, including the University of Oslo, Penn State University, and research centres across Africa. While the project is primarily computational, there may be opportunities to participate in fieldwork activities associated with EcoArch.

Funding is provided through the Horizon Europe Synergy grant 'Ecological Archaeologies of the Afrotropics (EcoArch)', covering a stipend of £20,780 per annum and international tuition fees for 3.5 years. The project is open to students worldwide. Applicants should hold at least a UK Upper Second (2:1) bachelor’s degree or equivalent, or a master’s degree in environmental science or a closely related discipline. Strong quantitative and programming skills (R, Python), familiarity with palaeoenvironmental data, and an interest in environmental modelling are essential.

To apply, use the provided application link to create an account and begin the process. Please quote reference ‘DRC26-006’ in the ‘Scholarships applied for’ box within the Funding Section of your online application. If prompted for a research proposal, simply paste the project title. The application deadline is 15 March 2026. For further enquiries, contact Dr. Sandy P. Harrison at [email protected]. Successful candidates will receive a formal studentship award letter, subject to eligibility and standard checks.