PhD Studentship: From climate information to climate action: Evaluating how climate information use shapes local adaptation decision making in English Local Authorities and opportunities for improvement University of East Anglia in United Kingdom

[Fully funded UKRI studentship covering fees, maintenance stipend of £21,805 p.a. for 2026/27, and a research training and support grant (RTSG). Limited international applicants may have the home/international fee difference waived; relocation, visa, and health surcharge costs are not covered.]

PhD Studentship at the University of East Anglia

This PhD project investigates how climate information is used in local adaptation decision making within English Local Authorities, and how that use can be improved to strengthen climate resilience. The research responds to the growing availability of climate data, national risk assessments, and climate services, while addressing a key gap: how such information is interpreted, filtered, and incorporated into real-world public-sector decisions.

The project will focus on the role of Local Authorities in planning, infrastructure, estates management, public health, and community resilience. It will examine how hazard, risk, and adaptation information enters organisational decision-making processes, and how roles, professional norms, and internal structures shape uptake and use. The work is designed to generate practical recommendations for the next generation of climate service tools and to support more effective adaptation outcomes.

Methodologically, the project will use a qualitative multi-method approach. This will include documentary analysis of adaptation strategies, risk registers, and planning documents, together with semi-structured interviews with staff involved in adaptation decision making. Existing consultation survey data from national climate service providers will add further context. The analysis will explore how climate information is accessed and interpreted, where it influences decision processes, and what opportunities exist to improve adaptation practice.

The successful student will engage with the UK Met Office climate services team, supporting analysis, knowledge exchange, and impact. Training will be provided in interview design and delivery, thematic coding, synthesis of qualitative data, and use of software such as NVivo. As part of the Tyndall Early Career Network, the student will also benefit from an established research group, bespoke training in areas such as science-policy engagement, and access to webinars and climate expertise through the Met Office.

Funding is available through ARIES/UKRI terms and conditions. Eligible students will receive a fully funded studentship covering tuition fees, a maintenance stipend of £21,805 per annum for 2026/27, and a research training and support grant. A limited number of awards are available for international applicants, with the fee difference waived, although relocation, visa, and health surcharge costs are not covered.

Applicants should have an understanding of climate science and/or adaptation policy in the UK, alongside skills in qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, and synthesis. Interest in working with adaptation decision-makers and strong written and verbal communication skills are also important. The application deadline is 16 December 2026, and applications should be submitted through the University of East Anglia postgraduate research application portal.