The University of Leeds is advertising a competitive PhD on uncertainty in the climate effects of shipping aerosols. UK and international applicants may compete for funding. The deadline is 13 January 2027. Applicants should consider the research fit and financial conditions together before deciding whether to apply.
Research Focus
The research combines modelling, observations and machine learning to investigate aerosol-cloud interactions. Perturbed-parameter ensembles examine uncertain model assumptions. Satellite and field-campaign evidence can help constrain the simulations. Read the project description as a starting point for identifying a question that interests you, rather than assuming that every possible method will appear in the eventual thesis.
Location and Academic Team
The university base is Leeds, United Kingdom. The work concerns atmospheric and climate science. The School of Earth and Environment hosts the opportunity. It forms part of UNRISK. Dr D Grosvenor, Professor K Carslaw and Dr Leighton Regayre are named supervisors. The project connects modelling with observational evidence.
Who Can Apply
Applicants with physics, mathematics or computer and data-science backgrounds and coding skills are particularly encouraged. Check the current programme requirements for the precise qualifications and supporting documents needed. A relevant subject or an eligible nationality does not by itself guarantee admission or an award.
Funding and International Conditions
UNRISK offers 15–18 awards across the programme, covering full tuition, a UKRI-rate stipend, £6,000 individual research support and £5,000 cohort training per student. International awards are limited, with visa and Immigration Health Surcharge expenses remaining personal costs. Confirm the applicable stipend and written award terms before making financial commitments.
Exploring the Research Problem
For optional preparation, imagine that several model assumptions can change the same output in similar ways. Ask what information would help you identify which assumptions matter most for the question under investigation. Explain why agreement with one observation might not be enough to distinguish between competing explanations. This is a hypothetical preparation example, not an advertised assessment, a specified observational campaign or a claim about a causal explanation for any particular historical climate event.
You could extend the example by considering an observation that rules out some simulations while leaving a range of possibilities. State what has been learned and what remains uncertain instead of presenting the narrowed range as a uniquely established answer. Identify which further comparison would be most informative and why. A clear discussion of this reasoning can demonstrate interest in uncertainty-aware atmospheric research without implying that a statistical association or one successful model comparison settles the whole scientific question.
Presenting Evidence of Preparation
If you have completed a coding or modelling project, describe the problem, your individual contribution, the checks you performed and the evidence behind the result. Explain a case in which a parameter choice or an assumption materially affected the output. If you used observational data, state your actual role in obtaining, preparing or analysing it rather than implying responsibility for a wider campaign. Connect your existing strengths to the advertised topic and identify the scientific or computational expertise you would still need to develop during doctoral research. Keep a precise account of which checks you completed and which possible extensions remained outside the scope of the work.
If supporting materials are requested, make your individual contribution clear when discussing work completed with other people. Distinguish a class exercise, an unpublished report and a peer-reviewed research output instead of presenting them as equivalent achievements. Explain what your evidence can establish and what remained unresolved, including any limitation that would matter to the conclusion. Adapt these preparation suggestions to the actual application questions, since optional advice does not add requirements to the programme’s document checklist or guarantee a particular assessment outcome.
How to Apply
Use the current programme instructions to establish the submission route and complete supporting-document checklist. Review the exact project title and academic contacts wherever the form asks you to identify your research preference. An informal academic conversation can clarify fit, but it does not replace a formal application or constitute an admission or funding offer.
- View scholarship details and follow the linked institutional application instructions.
- Identify this named project and check the current academic and funding requirements.
- Submit through the specified route by 13 January 2027 and retain confirmation.
Before Submitting
Information was checked on 23 October 2026. Reconfirm the deadline and current terms before submission, particularly where your ability to enrol depends on receiving an international award. Keep a copy of the final form and any written clarification that materially affects your eligibility, financial expectations or decision to accept an offer.