PhD Studentship: Mitigating Climate Impacts – National Warning Platform for Reducing Heat and Air Pollution Risk on Human Health (NERC GW4+ DTP) University of Exeter in United Kingdom

[Home tuition fees covered plus annual tax-free stipend (£20,780 for 2026/27) for 3.5 years, £9,000 project costs budget, £2,000 conference budget, £1,000 training budget.]

This fully funded PhD studentship at the University of Exeter, in partnership with the NERC GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), offers an exciting opportunity to address the urgent challenge of climate change impacts on human health. The project focuses on developing a national early warning platform to reduce risks from heat stress and air pollution, both of which are increasingly threatening urban populations in the UK. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with the Met Office and drawing on expertise from leading research organisations such as the British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Natural History Museum, and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.

The research aims to create a synergistic temperature and air quality Early Warning System (EWS) for the UK, leveraging advanced methods in environmental intelligence, machine learning, and risk mapping. The doctoral researcher will have the flexibility to shape the research approach, gaining valuable skills in computational analysis, public health data manipulation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The project includes a CASE partnership with the Met Office, providing access to health and meteorological data, visiting scientist status, and hosting at Met Office premises.

Funding for eligible students covers home tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend (£20,780 for 2026/27) for 3.5 years, along with a generous project costs budget (£9,000), conference attendance support (£2,000), and specialist training funds (£1,000). The GW4+ DTP offers broad training in earth and environmental sciences, preparing graduates for leadership roles in research and policy. Applicants should have a strong background in environmental science, public health, meteorology, computer science, or related fields, with an interest in machine learning and risk analysis. Eligibility for home tuition fees is required for full funding.

The application deadline is 8 January 2026. For further details about the programme, visit nercgw4plus.ac.uk. To apply, use the University of Exeter portal at this link. For project-specific questions, contact the lead supervisor Dr Theodore Economou at [email protected].