PhD Studentship: Investigating Fake News Related to Climate Change University of Essex in United Kingdom

[Home tuition fee waiver, living costs stipend at UKRI recommended level (£20,780 for 2025-26), research allowance of £10,000 for authorised research costs.]

This fully funded PhD studentship at the University of Essex offers a unique opportunity for candidates from underrepresented groups to investigate fake news related to climate change. The position is part of the ‘Sustainable Transitions – Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme’ and includes a funded master’s degree (such as MSc Data Science or MSc Social Data Science) followed by an interdisciplinary PhD. The research project focuses on developing quantitative and computational techniques, including machine learning and natural language processing, to identify and prevent fake news in the climate change domain. The aim is to reduce the adverse societal and economic impacts of misinformation and assess its influence on environmental policy.

Applicants must be UK domiciled, not already hold a master’s degree, and be from a low-income household or specified ethnic backgrounds (including Black African, Black Caribbean, and mixed backgrounds). The ideal candidate will have a background in Business Analytics or Data Science, with experience in NLP and ML. Prior training in government and political science research methods is not required, as it will be provided during the programme. The project area is broadly defined, allowing applicants to develop their own research proposal in consultation with the supervisory team.

Scholars will benefit from the Sustainable Transitions training programme, which offers interdisciplinary research methods, secondary discipline training, and ongoing development. Additional support includes access to £2,500 for training courses and a £10,000 research allowance for supplies, equipment, and fieldwork. All scholars join the University’s Centre for Environment and Society, providing events and networking opportunities.

Funding covers a home tuition fee waiver, a living costs stipend at the UK Research and Innovation recommended level (£20,780 for 2025-26), and a research allowance of £10,000. The application deadline is 13 April 2026. Interested candidates should apply online, prepare a research proposal, and ensure they meet the eligibility criteria.