PhD Studentship: Optimising Aerial Image Analysis for Beach Litter Characterisation and Quantification Loughborough University in United Kingdom

[Fully funded studentship, partially funded by NERC, includes a tax-free stipend of £20,780 per annum (2025/26), UK tuition fees for 3.5 years, and a Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £8,000. International candidates may be eligible for fee support to cover the difference between UK and International tuition fees, subject to UKRI rules (max 30% international studentships).] This fully funded PhD studentship at Loughborough University focuses on optimising aerial image analysis for the characterisation and quantification of beach litter, building on the university’s extensive research into marine litter on the Isle of Skye and Scotland’s west coast. The project is part of a three-year marine litter monitoring campaign and involves close collaboration with community partners.

The research will evaluate the effectiveness of digital image collection and analysis methods, including the use of drones and mobile phones, to monitor heavily-littered coastlines. It will assess various image capture techniques and sensor types (such as RGB and multispectral) to generate high-quality beach litter images. The analysis will compare manual digital approaches (e.g., Dot Dot Goose) with the development of automated computer vision algorithms for marine litter characterisation and quantification. The interdisciplinary nature of the project requires integrating environmental science, engineering, and community science methodologies.

The successful candidate will join a team of researchers and work with community groups to advance practical solutions for marine litter monitoring. Funding is provided through NERC and includes a tax-free stipend of £20,780 per annum (2025/26), UK tuition fees for 3.5 years, and a Research Training Support Grant of £8,000. International candidates may be eligible for additional fee support, subject to UKRI rules.

Applicants should have at least a 2:1 degree (or equivalent) in Geography, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, and meet minimum English language requirements. Applications require a CENTA studentship application form, CV, and supporting documents, with a deadline of January 7th, 2026. Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held in early February 2026.