PhD Studentship: Exploring the influence of magma-mush processes on volcanic unrest, NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for September 2026 Entry

University of Exeter - Department of Earth and Environmental Science

Placed On: 17th November 2025

Closes: 8th January 2026

Reference: 5763

About the Partnership

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP). The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners: British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science. For further details about the programme please see http://nercgw4plus.ac.uk/

For eligible successful applicants, the studentships comprises:

• An stipend for 3.5 years (currently £20,780 p.a. for 2026/27) in line with UK Research and Innovation rates
• Payment of university tuition fees
• The budget for project costs is £9,000 which can be used for computer, lab, and fieldwork costs necessary for you to conduct your research.
• There is also a conference budget of £2,000 and individual Training Budget of £1,000 for specialist training

Project Aims and Methods

Volcanic eruptions threaten 10% of the world’s population. To enable eruption forecasting, carry out hazard assessment, and mitigate risk, a thorough understanding of volcanic unrest is essential. Surface deformation during volcanic unrest has begun to be explored using models based on magma migrating and accumulating in a magma-mush reservoir, but they have limitations and have not been linked to other indicators of unrest, such as seismicity. This PhD project will drive innovation in modelling magma-mush processes and the generated surface deformation and seismicity during unrest episodes. The student will incorporate the fast-evolving understanding of magma-mush systems into numerical models simulating surface deformation from porous fluid (magma) flow, and test how predicted subsurface stress and strain may relate to patterns of volcanic earthquakes.

Models will be applied to case-study volcanoes co-selected with the PhD student and collaborators at local volcano observatories during the first year of study. Possible examples include volcanoes in Japan, the eastern Caribbean, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. The student will benefit from expert project co-supervisors from the University of Bristol and British Geological Survey. Project results will improve how surface deformation and seismicity are interpreted during volcanic unrest, with tangible impact for institutions dealing with volcanic crises.

Useful recruitment links:

For information relating to the research project please contact the lead Supervisor via: j.hickey@exeter.ac.uk