William Rudgard

The University of Oxford, in partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is offering a fully funded ESRC Grand Union DTP PhD studentship focused on the impacts of rising heat and drought across Africa on child protection and education. This interdisciplinary project, supervised by Associate Professor William Rudgard and Professor Lucie Cluver, aims to generate new evidence to improve early warning systems and humanitarian responses, investigate how climate extremes affect children’s safety, schooling, and wellbeing, and inform guidance and tools for IFRC National Societies. The research will utilize advanced statistical analyses, machine learning, and geospatial data to link climate and child survey data across multiple African countries, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Key outputs include briefing papers, child-friendly disaster preparedness materials, and evidence-based recommendations for schools and humanitarian organizations. The studentship is funded for 3.5 years and covers tuition and stipend. Applicants must apply for the DPhil in Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation at Oxford, submit a research proposal engaging with the project, and complete the Grand Union DTP Application Form. The deadline for applications is 27 January 2026. This opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in child protection, education, climate change, humanitarian response, and social policy research. For queries, contact Associate Professor William Rudgard at [email protected].