Aspiring climate scientists have a unique opportunity to join the UNRISK Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) – a fully funded, multidisciplinary PhD programme tackling one of the world’s most pressing challenges: uncertainty in how our climate will change.

UNRISK offers a collaborative research environment where students work alongside experts and industry leaders, and is hosted by the business, environment, geography and maths departments of the University of Leeds, as well as University College London (UCL) and University of Exeter, .

Supported by over 40 external partners – including the National Centre for Atmospheric Science – the programme aims to empower the next generation of researchers to address critical uncertainties in climate projections and their societal impacts.

As the climate crisis accelerates, our limited ability to predict how it will affect extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and agricultural systems creates significant challenges for decision-makers. This uncertainty not only delays crucial policy actions but also incurs economic costs.

Available PhD topics span the full spectrum of climate science, including transition pathways, extreme events, ice sheet decline, sea-level rise, future drought and flood occurrence, and tipping points. Students will collaborate with academic supervisors who are global leaders in climate science, many of whom contribute to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the UK’s Climate Change Risk Assessment.

The UNRISK training programme goes beyond research to deliver sought-after skills, such as computer modelling, machine learning, digital twinning, rare event modelling, model-observation fusion, decision systems, decision-making under uncertainty, and how uncertainty and risk are communicated. Tailored training, hands-on workshops, and Challenge Weeks ensure students gain practical experience alongside theoretical knowledge.

With partners from weather and climate operational centres, consultancies, financial and re-insurance organisations, public bodies and humanitarian organisations, students will benefit from placements, co-supervision, and real-world insights. These partnerships and network opportunities enhance employability in the rapidly growing climate services sector.

Successful applicants receive full funding to cover university fees, a maintenance grant, research and training costs. While primarily aimed at UK-based students, a limited number of international applicants will also be considered.

Ready to shape the future of climate science? Visit the UNRISK CDT website to learn more about the programme, PhD application process, and upcoming deadlines.