The Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) has been awarded seven Faculty Scholarships for October 2015 and the following projects are in competition for this funding, for which we are currently accepting applications.

LEC is one of the world’s largest and highest rated* multi-disciplinary centres of environmental research, we bring together world class researchers from a wide range of disciplines to help to find solutions to global environmental challenges. We have more than 65 academic staff, 160 PhD students and 50 post-doctoral researchers spanning the social, physical and biological aspects of the environment. We welcome enquiries and applications from well-qualified applicants who wish to join this thriving research community.

Assessing the role of lianas in the functioning of degraded tropical forests

Supervisors: Dr Jos Barlow, Dr Ian Dodd and Dr Erika Berenguer, (Lancaster Environment Centre)
Further Information: www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_221.pdf 

Deep-sea mining in Namibia: Towards a critical politics of law, space and the nation
Supervisors: Dr John Childs and Dr Saskia Vermeylen (Lancaster Environment Centre)
Further Information: www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_219.pdf 

Developing trans-disciplinary approaches for the co-design of low carbon technologies in East Africa: Can agro-voltaic systems contribute to sustainable community development in rural Tanzania?
Supervisors: Dr James Fraser and Dr Alona Armstrong (Lancaster Environment Centre)
Further Information: www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_222.pdf 

Enhancing the information content of geophysical data applied to nuclear site characterisation***
Supervisors: Prof Andy Binley (Lancaster Environment Centre) and Dr Oliver Kuras (British Geological Survey)
Further Information: www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_183.pdf 

Food and energy provisioning for population centres: an assessment of agrivoltaics technology
Supervisors: Dr Nils Markusson and Dr Alona Armstrong (Lancaster Environment Centre)
Further Information: www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_220.pdf 

How contaminated are UK soils?
Supervisors: Dr Andy Sweetman (Lancaster Environment Centre) and Prof Richard Shore (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)
Further Information: www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_224.pdf 

Magma degassing: bridging fluid dynamics, geology and geochemistry
Supervisors: Dr Mike James, Dr Steve Lane and Dr Hugh Tuffen (Lancaster Environment Centre)
Further Information: www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_223.pdf 

Mitigation and Control of Urban Air Pollution in China**
Supervisors: Dr Oliver Wild, Dr Andy Jarvis (Lancaster Environment Centre) and Prof Zifa Wang (Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Further Information: www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_218.pdf 

On-board detection of silicate particles (volcanic ash) for aircraft
Supervisors: Dr Steve Lane and Dr Jennie Gilbert (Lancaster Environment Centre)
Further Information: www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_190.pdf 

Optimising fertiliser applications using hyperspectral satellites**
Supervisors: Dr Alan Blackburn (Lancaster Environment Centre) and Professor Jingefeng Huang (Zhejiang University)
Further Information: www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_225.pdf 

Funding: For all projects full studentships (UK/EU tuition fees and stipend (£13,863 2014/15 [tax free])) for UK/EU students for 3.5 years. For ** projects full studentships (International tuition fees and stipend (£13,863 2014/15 [tax free])) for International students for 3 years are also available. For *** projects full studentships (International tuition fees and stipend (£13,863 2014/15 [tax free])) for International students for 3.5 years are also available.

Academic requirements: First-class or 2.1 (Hons) degree or Masters degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject. You must have demonstrable potential for creative, high-quality PhD research. 

Interview date: TBC – Last week of February 2015

Start date: October 2015

Application process: Please upload a CV and a covering letter outlining your background and suitability for this project at LEC Postgraduate Research Applications,www.lec.lancs.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgresearch/apply-online.

You also require 2 references, please send the reference form (download fromwww.lec.lancs.ac.uk/docs/PG_Reference_Form.docx) to your 2 referees and ask them to email it to Andy Harrod (lec.pg<στο>lancaster.ac.uk), Postgraduate Research (PGR) Co-ordinator, Lancaster Environment Centre by the deadline.

Due to the limited time between the closing date and the interview date, it is essential that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.

Informal enquires are welcomed and in the first instance please contact Andy Harrod (lec.pg<στο>lancaster.ac.uk).

* A world top 100 university, QS World University Rankings 2014