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 pioneers a novel framework to analyse and predict the spread of waterborne infectious diseases by integrating hydrological and epidemiological systems through higher-order network science. It will develop cutting-edge data-science tools to predict higher-order interactions, moving beyond traditional pairwise graph models. The research aims to offer a more realistic and predictive understanding of pathogen movement and persistence in changing water networks, with a focus on high-impact regions like Bihar, India.
Project Highlights:
Pioneers a novel framework integrating hydrological and epidemiological systems via higher-order network science to predict disease spread.
Develops cutting-edge data-science tools for predicting higher-order interactions, creating a significant step change beyond traditional models.
Focuses on high-impact regions (e.g., Bihar, India) to generate actionable insights for global public health interventions and water management strategies.
Serves as a doctoral training platform, equipping students with interdisciplinary expertise in hydrology, epidemiology, complex systems, and data science.
Brief Overview: The growing frequency and severity of waterborne disease outbreaks, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, underscore the urgent need for innovative, data-driven approaches to understand and mitigate pathogen transmission. While traditional models often simplify disease dynamics to pairwise interactions, this research bridges that gap by applying new mathematical and computational data-science tools capable of capturing group-based dependencies and emergent properties within environmental systems. This offers a more realistic and predictive understanding of how pathogens move through and persist in changing water networks. Through collaboration with the Mahavir Cancer Trust and the Bihar Pollution Control Board, real-world datasets will be leveraged to validate models and generate actionable insights for public health interventions.
Training and skills development: This PhD project serves as a doctoral training platform, equipping the student with interdisciplinary expertise in hydrology, epidemiology, complex systems, and data science. The cross-school supervision will provide advanced skills in complex systems, data science, and environmental modelling, preparing students for cross-sector careers. The supervision combines theoretical instruction, hands-on data analysis, and international placements to cultivate a new generation of researcher capable of solving global environmental health challenges. 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.
