"PhD studentship for September 2026 Entry - Quantifying the impact of changing boreal and arctic fire regimes on the cryosphere using satellite observations. NERC GW4+ DTP"

University of Exeter - Department of Geography

Funding: For eligible students the studentship will cover home tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend.

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

Megafires are emerging as a dominant disturbance in high-latitude ecosystems, with major implications for permafrost stability, biogeochemical cycles and climate feedbacks. Boreal and tundra landscapes are particularly vulnerable, as Arctic amplification of warming intensifies fire regimes and threatens the persistence of large cryosphere-linked carbon stocks. Despite this, the role of fire in shaping permafrost thaw and thermokarst development remains poorly quantified.

This PhD project will investigate the interactions between wildfire disturbance and thermokarst dynamics across Siberia and other Arctic regions using multi-sensor satellite remote sensing data provided by the European Space Agency. The successful candidate will be guided by an expert interdisciplinary team to map spatiotemporal patterns of thermokarst evolution over the 21st century across hillslopes, coasts and wetlands. The candidate will analyse satellite observations of wildfires and attribute observed thermokarst changes to fire activity, examining the influence of burn frequency and severity on permafrost degradation. Next, the candidate will analyse feedbacks between vegetation changes, thermokarst processes, and fire, exploring how disturbances shape land-atmosphere exchanges. The final stage of the project will be to assess the broader environmental impacts of thermokarst changes, focusing on either biogeochemical fluxes or risks to Arctic communities and infrastructure, depending on the candidate’s interests.

Useful recruitment links:

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