Trailblazers
The Trailblazer PhD studentships have been devised and developed by leading early-career researchers at Coventry University.
Post-Hurricane Damage and Recovery: A remote assessment of agricultural resilience in the Caribbean
Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates with the required entry requirements
Duration: Full-Time – between three and three and a half years fixed term
Application deadline: 27 May 2024
Interview date: Will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates
Start date: September 2024
For further details contact: Dr Charley Hill-Butler, Assistant Professor in Geography and Natural Hazards
Introduction
Remote sensing, earth obHurricanes cause widespread damage to agriculture, resulting in vegetation loss and decreased productivity. The Caribbean region, specifically, is affected by three major hurricanes (on average) each year with island nations identified as particularly vulnerable. Importantly, while the immediate impact of hurricanes on agriculture can be detrimental to short-term production, the long-term impact on agricultural systems is less certain. Coupled with this, it is likely that the increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes (associated with climate change) may affect recovery in the long-term. This project will address this knowledge gap by assessing the impact of hurricanes on agriculture in the Caribbean, 2010-2020.
Project details
The purpose of this research is to conduct a regional assessment of all hurricanes that made landfall in the Caribbean, 2010-2020, to determine the overall impact of hurricanes on agriculture and the factors that contribute to agricultural loss. Utilising satellite imagery, a standardised methodology will be developed that will enable the short-term damage and long-term recovery of agricultural land to be identified, as well as compare hurricane events and farming systems. The findings of this research will drive innovations in resilience by determining disaster-resilient farming systems that are able to withstand and recover from future events.
Funding
This is a fully-funded studentship, including tuition fees and stipend/bursary.
Benefits
The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training including technical, personal and professional skills.
All researchers at Coventry University (from PhD to Professor) are part of the Doctoral College and Centre for Research Capability and Development, which provides support with high-quality training and career development activities.
Entry requirements
- A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.
PLUS
- The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a 3.5 years.
- A minimum of English language proficiency (IELTS academic overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component).
Additional specifications
It is expected that candidates will have prior experience of satellite image processing including remotely sensed datasets and methods. Knowledge and experience in programming and the development of processing scripts would also be advantageous.
How to apply
To find out more about the project, please contact Dr Charley Hill-Butler, Assistant Professor in Geography and Natural Hazards
All applications require full supporting documentation, a covering letter, plus a 2000-word supporting statement showing how the applicant’s expertise and interests are relevant to the project.
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