Sustainable Transitions: Energy, Environment and Resilience (Ref: SSH26-SF-STEER)

About the Project

The Centre for Sustainable Transitions: Energy, Environment and Resilience (STEER) is a multi-million-pound research centre empowering vulnerable populations in the Global South to shape and benefit from the transition to sustainable energy. With an extensive international partner network that ranges from decision-makers to energy-poor communities, STEER is developing agenda-setting research and innovative tools that actively support delivery of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Your research with us would place you at the forefront of this exciting and critical field which may include policy and technical research on socially just energy systems, capacity building, and deploying on-the-ground solutions. Our team is multi-disciplinary and able to support you in understanding what it takes to deliver solutions to complex real-world problems, including technical, regulatory, and financial innovation.

We invite proposals from prospective PhD candidates with projects relating to the following themes:

Systems analysis and energy modelling for sustainable transitions

STEER’s research in this area includes the development of massive open online data sets as well as free open-source analysis software. We provide fully open links for starter data kits for national energy investment models, contribute to summer schools; lead and contribute to official national country analysis and contribute to free online teaching material to assist with the development of researchers and national knowledge management programmes.

Your research would be supported by our multi-disciplinary and international team and could generate significant change, working in partnership on the development and implementation of global modelling methodologies to support policy development, the establishment of communities of practise, open tools and upskilling for sustainable development.

Enhancing community energy resilience

The world’s poorest communities are worst affected by the impacts of climate change, disasters, and conflicts. The infrastructure that supports their lives is fragile and easily disrupted. Progress towards energy access can only be maintained by addressing the increasing shocks and stresses that these communities face.

Your research may focus on identifying and building upon the resilience strategies of communities and accelerating inclusive and clean energy transitions. You could make a major contribution towards strengthening partnerships for the further development of self-assessment tools and frameworks to promote sustainable approaches to relief, recovery, and reconstruction after natural disasters. You could be a critical component in the development of solutions that manage, and wherever possible mitigate, the impacts of climate change that must be sustainable, affordable, secure and equitable for all. Responding effectively to these challenges demands novel and innovative interdisciplinary research.

This PhD project is suited to applicants who are looking to apply for funding via the Loughborough University-China Scholarship Council or who are able to self-fund.

Supervisor

• Prof Ed Brown (e.d.brown@lboro.ac.uk)

Tuition fees for 2026-27 entry

• UK fee - £5,238 Full-time degree per annum
• International fee - £23,100 Full-time degree per annum

Fees for the 2026-27 academic year apply to projects starting in October 2026, February 2027 and July 2027.

UK tuition fees for 2026/27 are currently to be confirmed pending the release of the UKRI recommended rates. Once published, these rates will be subject to formal approval by the University before being confirmed.

Opportunity Details

• Target Start Date: October 2026
• Full time or part time available.
• Open to UK and international applicants.

How to Apply

We welcome discussions with interested candidates.

• Step 1: Interested applicants should first contact Prof. Ed Brown (e.d.brown@lboro.ac.uk) to discuss your research interests and funding options.
• Step 2: Applicants are then strongly encouraged to contact potential supervisors with a CV, academic transcripts, and confirmation of funding sources or planned funding sources.
• Step 3: following any informal discussion, applicants are invited to make a formal application on the Loughborough Website.