Crocus Disciplines:
Projects advertised by the Crocus DLA span across multiple disciplines and research areas, including: Atmospheres, Oceans and Aquatics, Cryosphere, Ecology and Biodiversity, Hydrology and Soils.
If you would like to apply for any of our project-based studentships, please apply through our online portal, Good Grants.
Further information on our application pathways can be found here.
Eligibility based on Academic Performance and/or Relevant Previous Experience
1st or upper 2nd class degree is required in a subject appropriate to the PhD projects applied for (see the project description for more info). Candidates with a lower class of Bachelors degree, but a good performance at the Masters level (“merit” or above) will also be considered.
We will also consider candidates with different academic paths but with experience acquired from a research position, or equivalent, that is relevant to the topic of the PhD project.
Many applicants will still be studying for their undergraduate or Masters degree, so it is fine to provide a projected or target grade for your current degree course – offers are then generally made conditional on the class of the degree actually achieved.
| ID | Title | Lead supervisor | Lead Institution | Co-Sponsorship | |
| CR2025_01 | Understanding the risk of extreme U.S. winter weather | Andrew | Charlton-Perez | University of Reading | The project will receive a CASE award from AXA XL. |
| CR2025_02 | Network approaches to rewilding Britain’s ecosystems | Miguel | Lurgi Rivera | Swansea University | The project will receive a CASE award from Rewilding Britain. |
| CR2025_03 | Improving precipitation forecasts using airborne and EarthCARE satellite observations | Thorwald | Stein | University of Reading | The project includes a placement opportunity at the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts. |
| CR2025_04 | Understanding the mechanisms linking the solar wind and terrestrial lightning | Chris | Scott | University of Reading | The project will receive a CASE award from the Met Office. |
| CR2025_05 | Realising the benefits of next generation sub-km ensemble weather forecasts | Suzanne | Gray | University of Reading | The project will receive a CASE award from the Met Office. |
| CR2025_06 | Cross-shelf transport processes in a changing climate
Please note: For international candidates, this project will be hosted at University of Reading under lead supervision of David Ferreira. |
André | Palóczy Filho | National Oceanography Centre | The project will receive a CASE award from the UK Met Office Hadley Centre. |
| CR2025_07 | Secondary metabolic gene evolution in the industrially important fungi | Dan | Eastwood | Swansea University | |
| CR2025_08 | AI in the Museum – quantifying over a century of change in the geographical ranges
Please note: Due to the nature of this project and to comply with visa regulations, only Home students should apply |
Ken | Norris | Natural History Museum | The project will receive co-sponsorship from Natural History Museum. This co-sponsorship will be in the form of a placement. |
| CR2025_09 | What is causing Southern Ocean sea ice loss? | Danny | Feltham | University of Reading | |
| CR2025_10 | New insights into the timing and scale of past Mediterranean volcanism and climate change from Lake Ohrid (Macedonia/Albania) | Paul | Albert | Swansea University | |
| CR2025_11 | Digging Deeper: Unravelling the Impact of Wastewater Treatment Plants on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Please note: Due to the nature of this project and to comply with visa regulations, only Home students should apply. |
Susheel Bhanu | Busi | UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology | |
| CR2025_12 | How will extreme weather affect the energy sector in Europe under climate change? | David | Brayshaw | University of Reading | The project will include a CASE studentship with RTE France and additional co-supervision with MeteoSwiss. |
| CR2025_13 | Understanding km and sub-km scale model forecasts of orographically enhanced stratiform precipitation in the UK | Chris | Westbrook | University of Reading | The project will receive a CASE award from the Met Office. |
| CR2025_14 | Hydro-Ecological-Sediment feedbacks for improving coastal wetland Restoration (HES-Res) | Harshinie | Karunarathna | Swansea University | The project will receive co-sponsorship from the Welsh Coastal Monitoring Centre. This will take the form of a placement. |
| CR2025_15 | Temporal and spatial impacts of conservation actions on British reptiles and amphibians | Brian | Pickles | University of Reading | The project will receive CASE support from Froglife. |
| CR2025_16 | Does wilder grazing enhance ecosystem processes?
Please note: For international candidates, this project will be hosted at Swansea University under lead supervision of Luca Borger. |
James | Bullock | UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology | The project will receive a CASE award from the National Trust. |
| CR2025_17 | Designing Intertidal Channels (DITCH): detecting pre-reclamation drainage channels for improved design of saltmarsh restoration schemes | Jonathan | Dale | University of Reading | The project will receive a CASE award from Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. |
| CR2025_18 | Migration strategies and activity in a wide-ranging tropical seabird
Please note: Due to the nature of this project and to comply with visa regulations, only Home students should apply. |
Malcolm | Nicoll | Institute of Zoology | The project will include a placement opportunity at Round Island (RI) Nature Reserve (Mauritius). |
| CR2025_19 | Seed predation by insects and its implications for tropical plant diversity | Sofia | Gripenburg | University of Reading | |
| CR2025_20 | Seaweed cultivation for climate change mitigation: what would the net effect on atmospheric composition and climate be? | James | Weber | University of Reading | The project will be applying for co-sponsorship from the Met Office. |
| CR2025_21 | Developing metrics of change for pollinating insects in the UK
Please note: Due to the nature of this project and to comply with visa regulations, only Home students should apply. |
Francesca | Mancini | UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology | The project will receive co-sponsorship from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. This co-sponsorship will be in the form of a placement. |
| CR2025_22 | The role of the North Atlantic jet stream and cut-off low cyclones in the changing nature of summertime European flood risk | Ben | Harvey | National Centre for Atmospheric Science and University of Reading | The project will receive a CASE award from JBA Trust. |
| CR2025_23 | Spatially informed biodiversity restoration strategies to benefit multiple species | Konstans | Wells | Swansea University | |
| CR2025_24 | Keeping pace with climate change: facilitating species dispersal through productive landscapes | Andrew | Bladon | University of Reading | The project will receive co-sponsorship from Natural England. This co-sponsorship will be in the form of a placement. |
| CR2025_25 | How can AI-based insect monitoring technologies enhance large-scale insect monitoring?
Please note: Due to the nature of this project and to comply with visa regulations, only Home students should apply. |
Charlie | Outhwaite | Institute of Zoology | |
| CR2025_26 | Impacts of light pollution, and other drivers, on UK moth communities and associated plant pollination | Simon | Potts | University of Reading | The project will receive co-sponsorship from Butterfly Conservation and include a placement with Defra’s Biodiversity Target team. |
| CR2025_27 | Using AI-based weather forecast models to improve representation of tropical cyclones in climate simulations | Kieran | Hunt | National Centre for Atmospheric Science and University of Reading | The project will be applying for a CASE award with the Met Office. |
| CR2025_28 | Ice sheets and glaciers in a warming climate: measuring and modelling surface melt lakes | Bernd | Kulessa | Swansea University | This project will receive co-sponsorship from the University of Maine. This will be through logistics support for field survey program through the Juneau Icefield Research Program. |
| CR2025_29 | Remote Sensing of Solar Induced Fluorescence in Forests | Tristan | Quaife | National Centre for Earth Observation and University of Reading | This project will receive a CASE award from Forest Research. |
| CR2025_30 | Crushed basalt addition to soil to enhance carbon sequestration: implications for soil physical and hydrological functioning | Emilia | Urbanek | Swansea University | |
| CR2025_31 | Eruption triggers and timescales at ‘hyperactive’ subduction zone volcanoes | Katie | Preece | Swansea University | |
| CR2025_32 | Resolving the ocean energetics conundrum: does buoyancy forcing drive the ocean circulation? | Rêmi | Tailleux | University of Reading | |
| CR2025_33 | The cat’s whiskers: novel isoscape techniques using vibrissae from wild cats to track climate change impacts | Stuart | Black | University of Reading | This project will receive a CASE award from National Museums of Scotland. |
| CR2025_34 | Agroforestry solutions: harnessing trees for climate resilience and food security | Amelia | Hood | University of Reading | The project will receive a CASE award from Forest Research. |
| CR2025_35 | Unravelling how mycorrhizal and decomposer fungi in forest soils effect wood and litter decomposition and may mitigate climate change | Mark | Tibbett | University of Reading | The project will receive a CASE award from Forest Research. |
| CR2025_36 | Quantifying Contributions of Mountain Cryosphere Components to Groundwater Recharge Using Isotopic Analysis | Maria | Shahgedanova | University of Reading | This project will be applying for co-sponsorship from the British Geological Survey University Funding Initiative. A placement has also been arranged with the Isotope Hydrology Section at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. |
| CR2025_37 | Assessing production, residence and nursery values for finfish in saltmarsh habitats in South Wales to inform management strategies for conservation and restoration | Nicole | Esteban | Swansea University | This project will receive a CASE award from Natural Resources Wales |
| CR2025_38 | Shining a light on short-term response of insects and their predators to climate extremes: harnessing the potential of automated AI camera and audio systems
Please note: Due to the nature of this project and to comply with visa regulations, only Home students should apply. |
David | Roy | UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology | This project will receive a CASE award from Natural England. |
| CR2025_39 | Defining the cascading effects of global warming – from the microbial loop to marine food webs (MicroHeat) | Eva | Sonnenschein | Swansea University | |
| CR2025_40 | Life in mines: exploring and harnessing the hidden microbiology of mine tailings, a journey of discovery and restoration
Please note: Due to the nature of this project and to comply with visa regulations, only Home students should apply. |
Anne | Jungblut | Natural History Museum | This project will receive a CASE award from Phyla Earth. |
| CR2025_41 | The diversity and evolutionary history of the shrimp plants (Acanthaceae: Justiciinae) in the palaeotropics.
Please note: Due to the nature of this project and to comply with visa regulations, only Home students should apply. |
Iain | Darbyshire | Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew | |
| CR2025_42 | The Cause-mic Universe: Tracing Links between Solar Flare Variability (Quasi-Periodic Pulsations) and Earth’s Ionosphere with Causality | Nachiketa | Chakraborty | University of Reading | The project will receive co-sponsorship from DIAS. This will be in the form of a placement and collaborative visits. |
| CR2025_43 | Predicting the surprises: Extreme events in Northern Europe | Laura | Wilcox | National Centre for Atmospheric Science and University of Reading | This project will receive a CASE award from the CICERO Center for International Climate Research. |
| CR2025_44 | Cod in crisis in the Celtic Sea: Predicting the Cod distribution using Satellite Ocean Colour and Machine Learning | Shovonlal | Roy | University of Reading | This project will receive a CASE award from CEFAS. |
| CR2025_45 | Biodiversity, biogeography and ecology of red calcified coralline algae of Britain
Please note: Due to the nature of this project and to comply with visa regulations, only Home students should apply. |
Juliet | Brodie | Natural History Museum | |
| CR2025_46 | Assessing extinction risk for the African Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) under climate change and habitat degradation. | Aisling | Devine | Swansea University | |
| CR2025_47 | Nutrient Impacts and Microbiochemical Controls on Carbon Storage in Forest Soils | Liz | Shaw | University of Reading | This project will receive a CASE award from Forest Research. |
| CR2025_48 | The mystery of widespread endemics: why do some species spread while others don’t? | Alastair | Culham | University of Reading | This project will receive a CASE award from Royal Horticultural Society. |
| CR2025_49 | EMBRACE: Examination of Mangrove Biodiversity, Resilience, and Adaptation for Climate and Ecosystems in The Gambia | Cai | Ladd | Swansea University | |
| CR2025_50 | Marine Forests in Flux: The Impact of Climate Change on Seaweed Carbon Sequestration | John | Griffin | Swansea University | This project will receive a CASE award from Natural Resources Wales. |
| CR2025_51 | Human-environment relationships in the Bolivian Amazon since the middle Holocene | Frank | Mayle | University of Reading | |
| CR2025_52 | Modelling the Oceanic Cavities of the Antarctic Ice Sheet
Please note: Due to the nature of this project and to comply with visa regulations, only Home students should apply. |
Ryan | Patmore | National Oceanography Centre | |
| CR2025_53 | Pathogen on the Rise: Investigating Crayfish Plague (Aphanomyces astaci) Dynamics and Climate Change Impacts on Crayfish in UK Freshwaters | Soon | Gweon | University of Reading | This project will receive a CASE award from Loddon Fisheries & Conservation Consultative. |
| CR2025_54 | Influence of Surface Roughness on Arctic Cyclones and Their Coupled Interaction with the Climate State in Summer | John | Methven | University of Reading | The project includes a placement opportunity at the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts |
| CR2025_55 | Using biologging to prioritise conservation actions for an endangered African carnivore
Please note: For international candidates, this project will be hosted at Swansea University under lead supervision of Luca Börger. |
Rosie | Woodroffe | Institute of Zoology | This project will receive a CASE award from ZSL-Kenya. |
| CR2025_56 | Molecular ecology of seagrass associated meiofauna, in healthy, declining, and restored meadows
Please note: Due to the nature of this project and to comply with visa regulations, only Home students should apply. |
Christopher | Laumer | Natural History Museum |
This project will be looking to apply for a CASE award with Project Seagrass. |
| CR2025_57 | Simulating monsoon systems at the kilometre scale | Andy | Turner | National Centre for Atmospheric Science and University of Reading | This project will receive a CASE award from the Met Office. |
| CR2025_58 | Windstorms in a changing climate | Oscar | Martínez-Alvarado | National Centre for Atmospheric Science and University of Reading |
This project will receive a CASE award from Oak Reinsurance |
| CR2025_59 | Interactions between chemical pollutants and an emerging infectious disease of wildlife | Kevin | Arbuckle | Swansea University | |
| CR2025_60 | Sustainable Agriculture & Farming for Ecosystem Resilience (S.A.F.E.R.) | Wendy | Harris | Swansea University | This project will receive co-sponsorship from Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm. This co-sponsorship will be in the form of a placement. |
| CR2025_61 | Quantifying trends in global wetland-associated biodiversity loss
Please note: if the studentship is awarded to an international student, the project will be hosted at the University of Reading under lead supervision of Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez. |
Clare | Duncan | Institute of Zoology | This project will receive a CASE award from the Zoological Society of London |