ARIES

ARIES

Advanced Research and Innovation in the Environmental Sciences

2026/27 Studentships

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:  

  1. Ecology and Biodiversity 
  2. Marine, Atmospheric and Climate Science 
  3. Geosciences, Resources and Environmental Risk 
  4. Environmental Genomics and Microbiology
  5. Agri-environments and Water


2026/27 Studentships and application process

  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded ARIES studentship of fees, maintenance stipend (£20,780 p.a. for 2025/26) 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.
  • 2026/27 projects will start October 2026.

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 kentgrc@kent.ac.uk by 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 7 January 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 kentgrc@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 7 January 2026.

Kent studentship project 1

From the Ground Up: Comparing Community-Led and Government-Driven Marine Protection in Greece   

In a milestone achievement for marine conservation in Greece, coralligenous habitats surrounding the Fourni Island Complex, Eastern Aegean Sea, were officially designated as a protected natural formation in July 2025. This designation follows efforts by the Municipality of Fourni, the local fishing community and Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation to map black coral habitats in the region, driven by concerns over destructive trawl-fishing practices that threaten the habitats and their associated ecosystem services. The designation recognizes the 430 km² Marine Protected Area as a no-trawl zone.  

Simultaneously, Greece has announced the establishment of two new large marine parks that will meet the countries commitment to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, specifically to protect 30% of its marine area by 2030. This turning point in marine governance in Greece presents a timely opportunity to evaluate two interventions that differ in approach (community-driven vs. top-down) and scale.    

More information

Kent studentship project 2

Monitoring and Mapping for Sovereignty in Contested Conservation Contexts: Digital Ethnography, Indigenous Knowledge, and Conservation Governance     

Participatory mapping has become a vital strategy for Indigenous communities asserting land rights and resisting exclusionary conservation models. Yet it is often implemented as a one-off, externally-led process that overlooks Indigenous knowledge systems and agency (Rundstorm, 1995; Bryan, 2011; Briggs et al., 2020). This project investigates how sustained, community-led mapping and monitoring can support ecological stewardship, rights recognition, and policy reform. Focusing on the Ogiek of Mount Elgon, Kenya, who face displacement under fortress conservation (Kenrick et al., 2023), the research explores how Indigenous communities use spatial data to document environmental change, challenge dispossession, and shape conservation governance. It responds to global debates on Indigenous data sovereignty, the ethical risks of spatial visibility, and the transformative potential of mapping for justice.  

More information

Featured story

Hear from a NERC-funded PhD student

Find out how ARIES has supported his research