About the Project
ACCE+ DLA is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith or religious belief, pregnancy or maternity, parental or caring responsibilities or career pathway to date. We understand that a student’s potential can be shown in many ways and we strive to recruit students from all backgrounds, and support them on their scientific journey.
We have designed our application systems to identify candidates who are likely to be successful in research regardless of what opportunities may have been available to them prior to their application.
Various support and guidance on applying for an ACCE+ DLA studentship, including how to apply; what we’re looking for (including our assessment rubric); details of financial support, training, and placement opportunities available; and details of our recruitment process, can be found at https://accedtp.ac.uk/, in the ‘prospective applicants’ tab.
Project overview
The Peruvian Amazon contains some of Earth’s most dynamic river systems; channels can migrate by hundreds of metres annually. In many places, these rivers are cutting into extensive tropical peatlands, among the most carbon-rich ecosystems in the Amazon, releasing carbon that has taken thousands of years to build up. Unlike carbon stored in forest biomass, which can be replaced within decades as vegetation regrows, peatland carbon lost to erosion is permanently removed. This represents a potentially significant but unquantified contribution to global carbon budgets. As climate change brings more intense rainfall and increasing river discharge, larger floods are expected to accelerate carbon removal from peatlands and floodplain forests through increased riverbank erosion. Quantifying these climate-driven changes alongside human alterations such as dam construction, deforestation, and channel dredging is essential for understanding carbon fluxes and improving carbon budgets.
Working in some of the most spectacular landscapes of the Peruvian Amazon, the successful candidate will investigate how river dynamics influence the storage, erosion, and transport of carbon within these geodiverse environments. The project combines hands-on fieldwork with cutting-edge technical and computational approaches, including remote sensing, automated data analysis, and the application of machine learning techniques.
Project goals
This project will quantify carbon removal from peatlands and forests by rivers in the Peruvian Amazon by:
- Developing automated remote sensing workflows using Google Earth Engine (GEE) to map riverbank erosion and deposition using 40+ years of satellite imagery (Landsat, Sentinel, Planet) at monthly to annual timescales.
- Conducting fieldwork campaigns along four rivers (Ucayali, Marañón, Tigre, and Chambira) with the Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP) to characterise riverbank properties and assess how carbon is being mobilised during flood events.
- Integrating remote sensing observations with above-ground (forest biomass) and below-ground (peatland and mineral soil) carbon stock datasets, providing river-scale estimates of carbon removal.
- Applying machine learning models to predict future change and establish mechanistic links between river-floodplain dynamics and carbon mobilisation. The workflow will be transferable, providing a framework that can be applied to tropical river-floodplain systems worldwide.
Skills, techniques and training
You will receive comprehensive training in:
- Fieldwork: During repeat field visits to the Peruvian Amazon, you will learn how to sample sediment and organic material from riverbanks, and apply remote sensing techniques to characterise riverbank properties (e.g., repeat LiDAR scanning, time-lapse photography). Local experts from IIAP will ensure safe working in remote tropical environments.
- Satellite remote sensing: You will develop advanced skills using Google Earth Engine for large-scale geospatial analysis, working with multi-sensor satellite data to track environmental change. You will develop programming skills in JavaScript and Python/R.
- Laboratory analysis: Analytical techniques for measuring carbon content in sediment and organic materials.
- Big data analytics and machine learning: You will handle large geospatial datasets and develop machine learning models to predict future riverbank erosion and carbon removal.
During a three-month bridge placement with our CASE partner RED YAKU, you will gain hands-on experience of consulting work. You will join RED YAKU’s team and contribute to delivering science-driven solutions to hydro-environmental challenges across South America.
These skills are in high demand across academic and non-academic roles (e.g., environmental consultancy, climate/carbon consultancy, Earth observation, conservation organisations, and natural capital services).
Research environment
Our research group offers a supportive, inclusive environment committed to your professional development. You will join an international, interdisciplinary team at the forefront of tropical river science, forest ecology, and carbon cycling.
At the University of Liverpool, you will have access to high-performance computing resources and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. You will join the vibrant Environmental Change Research Group, contributing to the Biosphere and Hydrosphere sub-themes.
How to Apply
Notes and details of how to apply are available here: https://accedtp.ac.uk/how-to-apply/
All applicants to ACCE+ must complete an online application form (see the relevant webpages for full details per ACCE+ partner). This form consists of questions that replace a traditional CV, questions about the project/s you are applying to, and the questions that make up the ACCE+ guided personal statement proforma. The personal statement proforma questions are designed to standardise this part of the application to minimise the difference between those who are given support and those who are not. In addition, depending on which ACCE+ University you apply to, you may be asked to submit additional documents via email (all details are in the online form and the ACCE+ page for each University).
Link to application details: https://accedtp.ac.uk/acce-dla-opportunities-at-university-of-liverpool/
Candidates should not submit a separate CV and cover letter or personal statement via email. CVs and cover letters or personal statements received by email will not be considered as part of your application.
Informal enquiries about the application process may be made to accedtp@liverpool.ac.uk.
Part-Time Study Options
All ACCE PhDs are available as part time or full time, with part time being a minimum of 50% of full time, unless stated otherwise in the advert.
Project CASE Status
This project is a CASE project. Your project will be co-supervised by the non-academic partner organisation, and you will spend 3-6 months on a placement with your CASE partner in their workplace. You will experience training, facilities and expertise not available in an academic setting, and will build business and research collaborations.
Funding Notes
NERC ACCE+ DLA programme starts from October 2026.
UKRI provide the following funding for 3.5 years:
• Stipend (2025/26 UKRI rate £20,780)
• Tuition Fees at UK fee rate (2025/26 UKRI rate £5,006)
• Research support and training grant (RTSG).
Note – UKRI funding only covers UK (Home) fees. The DLA partners have various schemes which allow international students to join the DLA but means they are only required to pay home fees. Home fees are already covered in the UKRI funding, meaning that successful international candidates do not need to find any additional funding for fees.
Please note that UK visa and relocation costs cannot be covered by ACCE+ DLA.
