How to apply

Are you passionate about solving complex environmental challenges?

Do you want to help create non-toxic environments that benefit society and nature alike?

Do you want to see the bigger picture and be part of a PhD programme that embraces system level thinking?

The ECOSOLUTIONS Doctoral Focal Award is an innovative and exciting PhD programme that has been co-designed and co-created with non-academic partners from industry, government and the third sector to deliver the future leaders they urgently require. The PhD projects we have co-developed offer the opportunity to address real world challenges with key opinion-formers to help create non-toxic urban and rural landscapes, and support clean industrial growth and innovation.

The ECOSOLUTIONS DFA

Led by the Universities of Sheffield and York and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, ECOSOLUTIONS is a bespoke, cutting-edge and transdisciplinary initiative. This innovative doctoral training programme operates at a systems level, combining natural science, social science, engineering, policy and societal engagement. Its goal is to transform chemicals policy and management to enhance environmental protection, deliver non-toxic environments and support safe and sustainable industrial growth. 

There are 19 PhD projects available within the third and final cohort of the ECOSOLUTIONS programme, each supported by dedicated team of academic supervisors and non-academic partners.  Successful applicants will join a vibrant community of like-minded researchers, benefiting from tailored intra- and inter-cohort training and challenge events, and direct exposure to more than 40 partner organisations from industry, government and the third sector.

What you will Gain

As an ECOSOLUTIONS PhD student, you will work with world-leading experts across diverse fields such as ecology, data science, digital solutions, chemistry, geography, psychology, environmental engineering, policy, and law. You will learn to understand and tackle the risks posed by chemicals without compromising the societal and economic benefits they provide.  

ECOSOLUTIONS will equip you with a systems-level and solutions-focused mindset where you see the bigger picture and understand the complex trade-offs that help shape environmental evidence synthesis and informed decision-making.

You will receive 3 years and 9 months of funding and take part in a dynamic training and development programme, including:

• Induction course: Connect with fellow students, supervisors, and the ECOSOLUTIONS team while exploring the programme’s mission and systems-level thinking.

• Primer course: You will gain foundational knowledge on chemical impacts, policy landscapes, and sustainable chemical innovation.

• Transferable skills workshops: Master data management, big data methods, research practices, research ethics and integrity, communication, stakeholder engagement and more.

• Systems-solutions workshops: Collaborate across disciplines to address the sources, causes, consequences and risk mitigation options for chemical pollution in urban and rural landscapes and chemical development.

• Three-month placement: You will work with a non-academic partner to apply and translate your research in real-world contexts to drive impact and real change.

• International conferences: You will share your findings with like-minded peers and build a network with global experts.

ECOSOLUTIONS graduates will be systems-focused innovators who can identify solutions to critical problems and embrace opportunities for cross-sector and multidisciplinary working.  

Eligibility:

To be considered for the ECOSOLUTIONS DFA, you will need at least an upper 2nd class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline.

As a collaboration of international research-led universities, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. Within our programme, we are dedicated to diversifying our community.

As part of our ongoing work to improve Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we strongly encourage applications from UK/Home candidates from identified underrepresented groups: Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, those from a disadvantaged socio-economic background, and disabled people.

Start Your Research Career with ECOSOLUTIONS:

This PhD is part of the ECOSOLUTIONS Doctoral Focal Award (DFA), a prestigious NERC-funded program dedicated to training the next generation of environmental practitioners. For more details and a full list of other PhD projects under this programme.

Funding Notes:

This is a full scholarship which will cover tuition fees and provide an annual stipend in line with UKRI recommended levels (£21,805 for the 2026/2027 academic year, TBC in 2027/2028) for the 45 months duration.

Due to CDT funding rules and Institutional policies, there is a cap on the number of scholarships that can be awarded to DFA students. Once this limit has been reached, ECOSOLUTIONS DFA scholarships will only be awarded to students who are eligible for Home fee status. York and UKCEH led projects can only fund applications from UK/Home eligible applicants and Sheffield can accept applications from both with very limited places for international students.  

Application deadline: 30 November 2026

Projects available: 

Project 1 - Is biochar production the answer to biosolid reuse? (Mark Hodson, University of York)

Project 2 - How do you turn an exhibition into a behaviour change intervention that can reduce pollution? (Thornas Webb, University of Sheffield)

Project 3 - Predicting chemical treatability and transformation across UK water and land-based treatment systems (Xinwei Fang, University of York)

Project 4 - Finding the best mix of solutions to the chemical cocktails polluting UK rivers (Alistair Boxall, University of York)

Project 5 - Evaluating contaminant dynamics and mitigation solutions in urban rainwater harvesting systems (Isabel Douterelo Soler, University of Sheffield)

Project 6 - The economics of chemical pollution risk management in UK Rivers (Paul Hudson, University of York)

Project 7 - Environmental fate and ecological impacts of wildfire suppressants for sustainable wildfire management (Darpan Das, University of York)

Project 8 - Understanding interactions between wastewater and pesticides on the fate of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in fields (Ellie Harrison, University of Sheffield)

Project 9 - Bridging technology and environmental regulation: refining environmental risk assessments for precision plant protection technologies (Jason Snape, University of York)

Project 10 - Leveraging behavioural change to reduce urban pollution (Karl Evans, University of Sheffield)

Project 11 - Beyond the horizon: Can we forecast future regulation? (Stuart Walker, University of Sheffield)

Project 12 - Future projections and sustainable scenarios for UK agricultural systems (Stephen Lofts, UKCEH)

Project 13 - Next-generation sensors for understanding and managing chemical pollution (Matthew Hobbs, University of Sheffield)

Project 14 - Black carbon in upland and agricultural landscapes - consequences for food production and climate change mitigation (Jill Edmondson, University of Sheffield)

Project 15 - Wildfires, ecological restoration and chemical risk (Kate Arnold, University of York)

 Project 16 - Investigating the potential of regenerative agriculture to reduce environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions through reducing chemical fertiliser, herbicide and pesticide inputs (Ben Keane, University of York)

Project 17 - Reducing chemical pollution through future farming systems: Understanding consumers' responses to underutilized crops and implications for the environment.  (Eleanor Jew, University of York)

Project 18 - The ecology of toxicological non-target effects (Andrew Beckerman, University of Sheffield)

Project 19 - Quantifying in-sewer attenuation to improve environmental exposure models (John Wilkinson, University of York)

What happens next?

All applications will be assessed by the ECOSOLUTIONS executive committee to identify candidates who meet the PhD entry requirements and demonstrate a strong motivation to join the ECOSOLUTIONS programme. Successful candidates will then be invited to an interview which will be online.  Date to be confirmed

Helpful videos to support you during the application process:

Preparing your PhD application (YouTube)

Watch this video for some top tips on writing PhD applications, including what skills and competencies you could include. 

How to prepare for a PhD interview and presentation (YouTube)

Watch this video for tips on how to approach an interview and presentation.

Tips on meeting your potential supervisors (YouTube)

Watch this video to find out what to expect and what you can achieve from meeting with the supervisor or supervisory team.