PhD in Physical Geography
There are many opportunities for carrying out a PhD in Physical Geography in the School of Geographical Sciences, with several different funding routes.
A list of currently available projects is shown below. This list is not exhaustive, so if you have another idea or project in mind, please contact one of the supervisors listed below, other potential supervisors or for general enquiries geog-pgadmin@bristol.ac.uk to discuss things further.
When applying to projects in the School of Geographical Sciences please choose 'Geographical Sciences: Physical (PhD)' in the 'find a programme' box. You should refer to the project title and supervisor in your application.
Scholarships for September 2024
Flood Centre for Doctoral Training (FLOOD-CDT)
These projects are funded by the FLOOD-CDT in partnership with several institutions, including Bristol University.
The first round of applications (for entry in September/October 2024) for FLOOD-CDT is open now with a deadline of Monday 8th April 2024.
Please click on the link above to view all projects, or search by different criteria. For Bristol projects please see below. Each of the successful researchers will undertake a multidisciplinary project, co-supervised with our external partners, investigating real-life problems across at least two of our Research and Training Themes. In parallel each doctoral researcher will receive extensive, multidisciplinary cohort-based training, across all six Research and Training Themes.
Please read the 'How to apply for FLOOD CDT projects (PDF, 167kB)' document carefully before submitting your application.
| Project title | Supervisor(s) |
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| Development of a national groundwater flood inundation modelling and forecasting platform | |
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Better understanding and handling of uncertainty in flood management
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Advancing large scale flood modelling with the surface water and ocean topography mission
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Floods in drylands: converting flood hazard into drought mitigation in East Africa |
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Assessing the efficacy of nature-based solutions to mitigate flash flooding and sediment mobilisation using high resolution monitoring |
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Global storm surge modelling under diverse climate scenarios and modes |
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Climate drivers of future extreme UK flood risk |
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| Understanding the compound nature of coastal flood hazard in the UK to improve forecasts and projections | |
| Modelling and mapping social vulnerability & flood risk in cities in low-income countries | |
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The UK’s tsunami risk from earthquakes, submarine landslides and volcano flank collapses: from model scenarios to risk mitigation |
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Beyond the peak- towards improved understanding of flood signatures, their drivers and trends |
NERC GW4+ DTP Projects 2024. NOW CLOSED
This is an exciting opportunity to apply for a project funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). We are now accepting applications for PhD projects commencing Autumn 2024 in the Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences.
The application deadline for 2024 projects is 23:59 on Tuesday 9th January 2024.
It is important that you follow the detailed instructions provided in 'How to apply for the GW4+ DTP NERC (PhD)' and be sure to read the prospectus carefully. We advise you download the 'Admissions Statement' and 'How to apply NERC GW4+ DTP' documents and follow the instructions. The prospectus also shows other Bristol Schools offering projects under this DTP.
When applying for GW4+ DTP projects in the School of Geographical Sciences please choose 'Geographical Sciences: Physical (PhD)' in the 'find a programme' box. You should refer to the project title and supervisor in your application. You will need to make a separate application for each project you wish to be considered for.
Further particulars of the programme including eligibility for international applicants (including EU) can be found here.
| Project title | Supervisor(s) |
|---|---|
| When will global warming stop? | Professor Dan Lunt |
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Quantifying the contribution of glaciers to water resources in mountain regions |
Dr Fabien Maussion |
| Improving future predictions in ocean nitrogen fixation | Dr Fanny Monteiro |
| The impact of river floods on the global carbon cycle | Dr Josh Dean |
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Meals on wheels: does physical structure influence community development and longevity in cryoconite? |
Dr Liz Bagshaw |
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Evolution of marine symbionts and the Earth System |
Professor Patricia Sanchez-Baracaldo |
| Climate change’s impact on extreme European rainfall | Dr Peter Watson |