I. Colin Prentice

[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.

[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 vegetation-fire interactions in Africa during the Holocene. This interdisciplinary project aims to reconstruct vegetation and wildfire regimes across the African continent over the past 12,000 years, leveraging the increasing availability of pollen and charcoal data and advances in reconstruction techniques. The research will analyse the causes of observed changes and assess the relative importance of climate change and human activities as drivers on different timescales. The successful candidate will join the SPECIAL group, an interdisciplinary research team within Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Reading. The PhD is funded through the Horizon Europe Synergy grant for the project 'Ecological Archaeologies of the Afrotropics (EcoArch)', providing a stipend of £20,780 per annum and covering international fees for 3.5 years. The student will have opportunities to collaborate with project partners at the University of Oslo, Penn State University, and research centres across Africa, and may participate in EcoArch fieldwork activities. This computationally based project is ideal for students with a strong background in environmental science or a closely related discipline, who possess well-developed quantitative and programming skills (R, Python), familiarity with palaeoenvironmental data, and an interest in environmental modelling to address real-world challenges. Applicants should hold at least a UK Upper Second (2:1) bachelor’s degree or equivalent, or a master’s degree in environmental sciences or a related field. The position is open to students worldwide. To apply, candidates should use the provided application link, create an account, and quote the reference ‘DRC26-007’ in the ‘Scholarships applied for’ box within the Funding Section of the online application. If prompted for a research proposal, simply paste the project title. The application deadline is March 15, 2026, with an envisaged start date in May 2026. For further enquiries, contact Dr. Sandy P. Harrison at [email protected]. Successful candidates will receive a formal studentship award letter, subject to standard eligibility checks.

[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.] PhD Studentship in Environmental Science: Vegetation-Fire Interactions in Africa during the Holocene The University of Reading invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship focused on reconstructing vegetation and wildfire regimes across the African continent during the Holocene. This interdisciplinary project is part of the SPECIAL group in Geography and Environmental Science and is funded by the Horizon Europe Synergy grant 'Ecological Archaeologies of the Afrotropics (EcoArch)'. Project Overview: The research aims to synthesize pollen and charcoal data from sites across Africa to document and analyze fundamental changes in vegetation over the past 12,000 years. The project will investigate the complex drivers of these changes, including climate variability, human activity, and natural disturbances such as wildfire. By leveraging advances in reconstruction techniques and the growing availability of palaeoenvironmental data, the student will develop continent-wide reconstructions and analyze the relative importance of climate and human drivers on different timescales. Research Environment: The successful candidate will join the SPECIAL group, an active interdisciplinary team at the University of Reading, and collaborate with international partners at the University of Oslo, Penn State University, and research centers across Africa. While the project is primarily computational, there may be opportunities to participate in fieldwork as part of the EcoArch initiative. Funding: The studentship provides a stipend of £20,780 per annum and covers international tuition fees for 3.5 years. Funding is provided through the Horizon Europe Synergy grant (project 101224871). Eligibility: Applicants should hold a good bachelor’s degree (minimum UK Upper Second (2:1) 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. The position is open to students worldwide. Application Process: To apply, use the provided application link to create an account and begin the process. Please quote reference ‘DRC26-007’ in the ‘Scholarships applied for’ box within the Funding Section. If prompted for a research proposal, simply paste the project title. The application deadline is March 15, 2026, with an envisaged start date in May 2026. Contact: For further enquiries, contact Dr. Sandy P. Harrison at [email protected]. Successful candidates will receive a formal studentship award letter upon completion of eligibility checks, separate from any offer of admission.

[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.

[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 the Holocene climates of Africa using pollen-based reconstructions. The project, titled 'Pollen-based reconstruction of Holocene climates of Africa during the Holocene,' aims to apply advanced statistical approaches to pollen records from lake and bog sediments, providing a comprehensive analysis of climate-driven vegetation changes across the continent over the past 12,000 years. By reconstructing climate changes at high temporal resolution, the research will explore how these shifts have impacted vegetation productivity and the human resource base, potentially offering explanations for the adoption of agriculture in Africa. The successful candidate will join the SPECIAL group, an interdisciplinary research team within Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Reading. The PhD is funded through the Horizon Europe grant for the project 'Ecological Archaeologies of the Afrotropics (EcoArch),' and the student will have 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, broadening the research experience. Applicants should have a strong academic background, holding at least a UK Upper Second (2:1) bachelor’s degree or equivalent, or a master’s degree in environmental sciences or a closely related discipline. Essential skills include quantitative analysis, programming proficiency in R and Python, familiarity with palaeoenvironmental data, and a keen interest in environmental modelling for real-world applications. The position is open to students worldwide, and standard eligibility and funding criteria apply. Funding is available for 3.5 years, covering a stipend of £20,780 per annum and international fees, supported by the Horizon Europe Synergy grant 'Ecological Archaeologies of the Afrotropics (EcoArch),' project 101224871. The application deadline is 15 March 2026. To apply, candidates should use the provided application link, create an account, and quote the reference ‘DRC26-006’ in the ‘Scholarships applied for’ box within the Funding Section. If prompted for a research proposal, applicants should paste in the project title and proceed. For further enquiries, contact Dr. 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.