PhD Studentship: Listening to La Soufrière: Fibre Optics and AI for the Next Generation of Volcano Monitoring

Overview

This studentship focuses on advancing volcano monitoring through the integration of fibre optics and artificial intelligence, specifically examining volcanic activity using data from La Soufrière in St Vincent. The research is part of the NERC Large Grant Expecting the Unexpected: Understanding Dangerous Volcanic Transitions and utilizes a Distributed Acoustic Sensing interrogator installed on a subsea fibre-optic cable. The appointed researcher will work within the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom.

What you get

The successful candidate receives a fully-funded studentship that covers university fees, a maintenance stipend of £21,805 per annum for the 2026/27 period, and a research training and support grant. A limited number of placements are available for international applicants, for whom the registering university will waive the fee difference between home and international rates. The recipient will also gain specialized training in seismology, volcanology, machine learning, scientific programming, and geophysical imaging, alongside operational observatory experience through a partnership with the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre and field maintenance duties in St Vincent.

Requirements

Applicants are required to hold a degree in geophysics or a related discipline, alongside a demonstrated interest in geohazards and interdisciplinary research. While not mandatory, prior experience in coding, data analysis, or machine learning is considered desirable. Successful candidates must also meet the eligibility criteria established by UKRI.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 2026-12-16.