Sandy Harrison

The University of Reading's Doctoral and Researcher College is offering two funded PhD projects in Environmental Science, focusing on the Holocene period in Africa. The available projects are: (1) Pollen-based reconstruction of Holocene climates of Africa, and (2) Vegetation-fire interactions in Africa during the Holocene. Both projects are supervised by Professor Sandy Harrison, a leading expert in the field, and are funded through a Horizon EU project with a network of international partners. These opportunities are based in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science, and are open to applicants worldwide. The research will involve advanced methods in palaeoecology, climate reconstruction, and fire ecology, with a strong emphasis on understanding environmental changes and their impacts during the Holocene epoch. The projects are ideal for students interested in environmental science, geography, earth science, and climate change research. Funding covers tuition fees and provides a stipend for living expenses, though specific amounts are not detailed in the announcement. Applicants should have a strong academic background in a relevant field and meet the University of Reading's entry requirements for PhD study. Experience with climate or environmental reconstruction methods is desirable. The application deadline is 15 March 2026. Interested candidates should apply online via the University of Reading application portal, ensuring all required documents are submitted before the deadline. For more information, applicants can consult the official funding page or contact the supervisor or Doctoral and Researcher College directly. Keywords: Environmental Science, Holocene, Pollen-based reconstruction, Vegetation-fire interactions, Africa, Climate Change, Geography.