ARIES
ARIES
Advanced Research and Innovation in the Environmental Sciences
About ARIES
The University of Kent is proud to be part of the Advanced Research and Innovation in the Environmental Sciences (ARIES) Doctoral Training Partnership which is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). ARIES will equip the next generation of environmental scientists with the knowledge and tools to better understand and manage our planet by:
- Developing multiple cohorts of scientists with advanced skills and knowledge, multidisciplinary outlooks, and substantial potential to operate successfully across all postgraduate career options;
- Assembling a diverse and integrated training partnership that enables our PGRs to address priority topics in environmental sciences through cutting-edge and world-leading research;
- Training all of our PGRs to understand modern methods of data management, interrogation, analysis, and presentation; from bioinformatics to artificial intelligence;
- Ensuring our graduates engage with the interfaces between environmental science and societal needs by growing their ability to achieve non-academic impact and effective public engagement.
Themes
ARIES is built upon scientific excellence within five overlapping research themes, click on a theme below for more information:
2027/28 Studentships and application process
- Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded ARIES studentship of fees, maintenance stipend (current rate at £21,805 p.a. for 2026/27) and research costs.
- A limited number of ARIES studentships are available to international applicants. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
- All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis, visa requirements notwithstanding.
- ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, and transgender status. Projects have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive, and appropriate research and fieldwork environment. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, with equal weighting given to experience and potential.
- 2027/28 projects will start October 2027.
2027 Projects:
- Integrating biodiversity, climate mitigation and livelihoods in Borneo’s largest community-led Nature-based Solution
- Integrating machine learning and remote sensing to track pressures on migratory fish in UK rivers and estuaries
Application Process:
To express an interest in a Kent ARIES project you must submit a Kent ARIES Expression of Interest Form and a copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV) to dtpenquiries@kent.ac.uk by 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 16 December 2026.
Step 1. Download a copy of the Kent ARIES Expression of Interest Form here.
Step 2. Submit your completed form and a copy of your CV (no more than 2 pages) to dtpenquiries@kent.ac.uk.
Step 3. Complete the ARIES EDI Form.
You must complete all three steps to be considered for a project.
DEADLINE: 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 16 December 2026.
Kent studentship project 1
Integrating biodiversity, climate mitigation and livelihoods in Borneo’s largest community-led Nature-based Solution
Community-managed forests are among the most promising Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. Yet to deliver lasting impact, NbS must align ecological goals with community governance and generate evidence in cost-effective ways. This is especially urgent in Borneo, where Indigenous and Local Communities steward vast tracts of carbon- and biodiversity-rich forests. In one of the region’s largest such initiatives, Planet Indonesia is supporting 12 villages to secure legal tenure over >300,000 ha of forests and agroforestry systems. This PhD offers a timely opportunity to integrate biodiversity science, ecological modelling, and participatory decision-making to strengthen conservation and climate outcomes.
Kent studentship project 2
Integrating
machine learning and remote sensing to track pressures on migratory fish in UK
rivers and estuaries
Many fish in the UK that migrate between marine and freshwater systems are on the brink of extinction. Water deficits, urbanisation and agricultural pressures can alter river habitats and water quality, with serious consequences for these ecologically and culturally important species - including Atlantic salmon, brown trout, European eel and lampreys. These species are indicators of the health and condition of UK river and estuarine ecosystems. However, understanding how environmental pressures affect these ecosystems over time is challenging, as conventional monitoring is often spatially and temporally limited.
This project will develop a novel, high-resolution approach powered by machine learning and remote sensing to investigate changes in UK rivers and estuaries. The River Stour, Kent, will act as the project’s initial training ground. The catchment is important for brown trout and European eel, and has high agricultural pressures leading to water quality deficits. The project will then scale up to other rivers across the UK that are important for migratory fish.