Application Deadline: 22 August 2025
Details
The Birmingham Institute for Sustainability & Climate Action (BISCA) is dedicated to fostering world-leading, transdisciplinary research and driving impactful solutions for a sustainable future. Our PhD studentships are designed to develop the next generation of research leaders committed to tackling complex global challenges. We bring together expertise from across disciplines, fostering an inclusive and collaborative research environment focused on real-world impact and meaningful climate action.
Top-level summary: This PhD project investigates how finance can be leveraged to enhance systemic resilience at the water–energy nexus in the UK. It aims to develop a robust, climate-adjusted investment framework combining technical insights from climate risk modelling with sustainable and blended finance. The research will quantify resilience gaps, forecast long-term impacts, and propose public–private financing mechanisms tailored to UK infrastructure priorities, ultimately positioning the UK as a leader in climate-resilient nexus finance. The impact is two-fold: changing the investment landscape towards resilience and in recognition of increasing energy demands to develop digital technologies, data centres and super computers that are used in finance.
Project Highlights:
Develops a climate-adjusted investment framework for the UK water–energy nexus, integrating climate risk, AI energy demands, and sustainable finance.
Quantifies resilience gaps and proposes public–private financing mechanisms tailored to UK infrastructure priorities (e.g., data centres, super computers and the environmental demand).
Explores innovative financial instruments (e.g., resilience bonds, ESG-linked finance) and circular economy solutions for water-energy systems.
Designs policy levers (e.g., risk guarantees, tax incentives) to de-risk investments, engaging with UK Infrastructure Bank and Climate Change Committee.
Brief Overview:
As climate change intensifies, the interdependence between water and energy systems – the crucial water–energy nexus – becomes increasingly vulnerable to disruptions from floods, droughts, heatwaves and increasing energy demands to develop digital technologies. Ensuring the long-term resilience of these critical infrastructures in the UK requires innovative finance models that integrate climate change science, manage climate risk, incentivise sustainable practices, and align with the UK’s net-zero goals and industrial strategies. Technically, the project will map water and energy interdependencies under varying conditions and identify investment thresholds needed to maintain operational continuity. Policy-wise, it will critically assess the coherence of UK frameworks such as the Green Finance Strategy and explore innovative instruments that can attract institutional capital into high-impact projects. This includes evaluating sustainability-linked bonds, blended finance models, and public-private partnerships to fund low-carbon water-energy projects.
Training and skills development: The successful candidate will gain expertise in quantitative techniques (e.g., simulation, stress testing, scenario analysis) and policy evaluation, while mapping water and energy interdependencies under varying conditions. They will learn to assess financial exposure using AI-driven climate stress-testing and design policy levers through econometric modelling, engaging directly with key UK financial and climate institutions. In addition, the water-energy costs associated in using AI as per of the PhD. You will be supervised by Professor Karen Elliott, Dr Anandadeep Mandal, and Dr Nicholas Barrand. As a BISCA PhD student, you will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary research network. You will be equipped with transdisciplinary expertise, fostering your growth as a future leader in sustainability and climate action, capable of driving meaningful change.
How to apply:
For more information and to apply for a studentship, please visit: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/centres-institutes/birmingham-institute-for-sustainability-and-climate-action-bisca/phd-studentships
Funding Notes
These BISCA PhD Studentships provide coverage for Home tuition fees and a UKRI-rate stipend (£20,780 for 2025/26), alongside access to additional funding for training and development opportunities.
International applicants are welcome. However, international candidates will need to secure additional funding to cover the difference between Home and International tuition fees, and potentially other living costs. We strongly advise discussing your full funding requirements with your proposed supervisor as part of your application preparation.
