PhD Studentship: Soil Carbon and Soil Health Through Landscape Transition University of East Anglia in United Kingdom

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

This PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia explores how nature-based solutions and landscape transition affect soil carbon and soil health. The project builds on the UKRI OpenLAND programme and is designed to generate new understanding of the molecular and ecological mechanisms linking land-use change, soil carbon dynamics, and soil microbiomes.

You will investigate soil carbon stocks, carbon stability, and microbial community responses during landscape transition. The research combines field and laboratory approaches, including dry combustion and thermogravimetric analysis to quantify carbon flows, carbon quality, soil carbon stocks, and the energy contained in soil organic matter. You will also use molecular ecology methods such as eDNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing to characterise soil microbial communities, alongside habitat classification for Biodiversity Net Gain.

The studentship is a CASE studentship aligned with active Landscape Recovery projects, offering the chance to work in real-world environmental restoration settings. A key partner is the Wendling Beck Nature Recovery Project, which supports the project and provides opportunities for placements with organisations involved in habitat creation and ecosystem restoration. This offers valuable practical experience and direct exposure to applied landscape-scale environmental management.

The project is particularly suited to applicants with a strong interest in soil science, ecology, environmental change, microbiology, and environmental data analysis. Experience with environmental media such as soils, sediments, or water, and with microbiome profiling or bioinformatics, would be advantageous. The role is ideal for a motivated student who enjoys both fieldwork and laboratory research and is keen to work across disciplinary boundaries.

Funding is available through ARIES and UKRI terms and conditions. Successful candidates who meet eligibility criteria will receive a fully funded studentship, including fees, a maintenance stipend of £21,805 per year for 2026/27, and a research training and support grant. A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the fee difference waived by the university; however, relocation, visa, and health surcharge costs are not covered.

Applications should be submitted via the University of East Anglia postgraduate research application portal before 16 December 2026. Prospective applicants should review the full details carefully and ensure they meet the required eligibility conditions before applying.