Jon Lovett

One full scholarship is available in the School of Geography, University of Leeds for 2026/27 . This is a postgraduate research opportunity focused on satellite monitoring of desertification , with a particular emphasis on the degradation of grasslands and the development of new methods for environmental monitoring. The project will explore how to map new variables using some of the latest satellite sensors and drones , combined with innovative image classification algorithms . It will study grasslands in China , which cover a substantial share of national land area, and will use data collected by both Chinese satellites and European Space Agency (ESA) satellites. The work builds on prior UK–China collaboration through the DRAGON 5 Programme and is supported by the DRAGON 6 Programme of ESA and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology . This opportunity is suitable for applicants interested in Earth Science , Environmental Science , Geography , remote sensing , geospatial analysis, and computational approaches to land degradation monitoring. The student will spend up to 6 months in Beijing working with the Chinese partner. Eligibility: applications are open to EU or Home (UK) applicants, and the student must have a UK or EU passport . Funding: this is described as a full scholarship ; no stipend amount or tuition details are provided in the post. How to apply: follow the University of Leeds postgraduate research application process for the School of Geography. Review the project and eligibility requirements carefully before applying. If needed, contact the academics named in the post for further guidance.