Posted by Ted Feldpausch
11 November 2026A fully funded PhD studentship is available at Cardiff University, open to students worldwide, for entry in October 2027. Applications close on Thursday 7 January 2027 at 23:59 GMT.
Lead Supervisor
Dr Daniel Mitchard, Cardiff School of Engineering, Cardiff University
Additional Supervisors
Professor Ted Feldpausch, Department of Geography, University of Exeter
Professor Claire Belcher, Wildfire Laboratory, University of Exeter
Dr Martin Füllekrug, University of Bath
Associate Professor Daniel Johnson, University of Florida
Location: Cardiff University
Lightning is the predominant cause of uncontrolled wildfires worldwide, threatening environments, habitats, infrastructure and health. It is now the leading cause of wildfires in temperate regions and boreal forests, endangering carbon storage and accounting for 77% of area burnt. In the USA in 2024, lightning started 6,935 wildfires that burned 4,258,331 acres, while human-caused fires burned a comparable area despite being eight times more frequent. Lightning rates are predicted to increase by 11 to 35%, and lightning-initiated wildfires by 41%, per degree of global warming. Yet the exact mechanism by which lightning ignites fires, predominantly via trees, remains unknown, and it is key to mitigating and managing these fires.
This project will study how lightning ignites trees using novel instrumentation at the Ordway-Swisher Biological Station (University of Florida, a 9,500-acre forest), supported by the Lightning Laboratory at Cardiff and the Wildfire Laboratory at Exeter. The work will produce a large body of lightning, tree and weather data over the next few years. Bath will provide expertise in triangulating and characterising the radio waves lightning emits, which is important for identifying the highest-risk strikes.
The doctoral researcher will use these data to explore factors and methods that can reduce lightning-wildfire risk, choosing their own research direction and carrying out feasibility laboratory and/or field studies. Training opportunities include laboratory skills, fieldwork, data collection and analysis, modelling, and sensor design and deployment. Cardiff also offers insight into NERC processes and management through its co-led project to increase diversity and inclusion in the natural sciences talent pool.
Cardiff and Exeter have an established research history in lightning-tree interactions, having previously collaborated on a NERC project and a PhD on African rainforests. Cardiff and Bath have long-established connections through technology-led EPSRC work.
For information about the research project please contact the lead supervisor: mitcharddr@cardiff.ac.uk
The studentship is funded through the NERC GW4+ Doctoral Landscape Training Partnership (DLTP) and comprises:
International students are fully funded, as GW4 covers the difference between home and international tuition fees, but must cover their own visa, healthcare surcharge and relocation costs.
Apply through Cardiff University (Engineering), selecting Doctor of Philosophy with a start date of 01/10/2027. Give the project title, the lead supervisor, the funding source as GW4+ Doctoral Landscape Training Partnerships (DLTP) and the project reference DM GW4 27. Upload the GW4+ DLTP Personal Statement in place of the Cardiff personal statement, and complete the DLTP PhD applicants questionnaire. Applicants can apply for only one PhD project across the GW4+ DLTP partnership.
The English language requirement is IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall, with at least 6.5 in each component, or an accepted equivalent.
Header photo: © Gavyn Mewett. Measuring a lightning-struck tree in Bobiri Forest Reserve, Ghana.