[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.]

This PhD studentship at the University of Reading offers an exciting opportunity to investigate vegetation-fire interactions in Africa during the Holocene. The project aims to reconstruct vegetation and wildfire regimes across the African continent over the past 12,000 years, using newly available pollen and charcoal data alongside advanced reconstruction techniques. By analysing these reconstructions, the student will explore the causes of observed changes and assess the relative importance of climate change and human activities as drivers of ecosystem transformations on different timescales.

The successful candidate will join the SPECIAL group, an interdisciplinary research team within Geography and Environmental Science. The PhD is funded by the Horizon Europe Synergy grant for the 'Ecological Archaeologies of the Afrotropics (EcoArch)' project, providing opportunities to collaborate with researchers at the University of Oslo, Penn State University, and research centres across Africa. While the project is primarily computational, there may be chances to participate in EcoArch fieldwork activities.

Applicants should have a strong academic background in environmental science or a closely related discipline, with well-developed quantitative and programming skills (R, Python), familiarity with palaeoenvironmental data, and a keen interest in environmental modelling. The position is open to students worldwide, and funding covers a stipend of £20,780 per annum plus international fees for 3.5 years.

To apply, candidates should use the online application link, create an account, and follow the instructions sent by email. It is important to quote the reference ‘DRC26-007’ in the ‘Scholarships applied for’ box within the Funding Section. If prompted for a research proposal, applicants should paste the project title and proceed. The application deadline is March 15, 2026, with an envisaged start date in May 2026. For further enquiries, contact Sandy P. Harrison at [email protected].

Successful candidates will receive a formal studentship award letter, separate from any Offer of Admission, subject to standard eligibility checks. This studentship provides a unique opportunity to contribute to a continent-wide synthesis of vegetation and wildfire changes, develop advanced computational skills, and engage with a vibrant international research community.