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 project will develop the first AI-driven framework that integrates multi-modal hydrological data and human impact data in the UK. This enhanced framework is expected to enhance the modelling of hydroclimatic compound hazards and assess the role of human influence on their dynamics. A key objective is to quantify and attribute the extent to which human activities contribute to the occurrence and severity of these complex events.
Project Highlights:
Develops the first AI-driven framework by incorporating multi-modal hydroclimatic datasets to enhance modelling of compound hazards.
Quantifies and attributes the extent to which human activities contribute to the occurrence and severity of these hazards in the UK.
Utilises large-scale, multi-modal data and leverages advances in self-supervised and transfer learning for spatio-temporal predictions.
Offers expertise in AI/machine learning, hydrological science, and computer science, working at the forefront of AI and hydrology.
Brief Overview: Growing evidence suggests that hydroclimatic compound events—where multiple hazards occur simultaneously or sequentially—are becoming more frequent and severe in some regions of the UK, leading to significant economic losses. Human activities, such as reservoir construction, urban expansion, and water abstraction, are key drivers of changing hydroclimatic patterns, yet our understanding of how these influence compound events remains limited due to data and modelling challenges. Foundation AI models offer significant potential for integrating multi-modal data and capturing complex relationships. This project aims to identify and classify various types of compound hazards and enhance their temporal and spatial modelling by integrating human influence data into a pre-developed foundational AI model.
Training and skills development: The PhD candidate will work at the forefront of AI and hydrology, gaining expertise in AI/machine learning, hydrological science, and computer science, while also developing skills in processing multi-modal hydroclimatic datasets. There will also be opportunities to collaborate with experts across disciplines and engage with partners in academia, government, and industry, particularly through BISCA’s networks. 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 (ÂŁ20,780 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.
