Doctoral Training Partnership in Environmental Research

NERC is funding a new generation of environmental scientists through a Doctoral Training Partnership, a structured programme that supports postgraduate students across multiple research organisations. This matters because the UK needs a steady pipeline of skilled researchers to tackle environmental challenges—from climate change and biodiversity loss to pollution and natural hazards. Without coordinated training, the country risks gaps in expertise where they are most needed. The partnership model allows universities and research institutes to pool resources, share facilities, and offer students broader training than any single institution could provide alone. If successful, this programme will produce PhD graduates equipped to work in academia, government agencies, environmental consultancies, and industries such as renewable energy, water management, and conservation. These researchers will go on to develop the evidence base for policy decisions, design monitoring systems for ecosystems, and improve how we manage land, water, and air. The impact is long-term and systemic—not a single breakthrough, but a sustained investment in the people who will make future breakthroughs possible.