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    Global Keele

    Physical Geography

    PhD / MPhil

    Duration
    PhD – 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
    MPhil – 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
    Contact
    Dr Jenny Dunn
    lifesciences.pgrlead@keele.ac.uk
    +44 (01782)733292

    The MPhil route for this programme is no longer accepting international applications for September 2026. Applications for the PhD route remain open.

    Summary

    Research in Physical Geography focuses predominantly on hydrology and fluvial geomorphology, freshwater conservation and management, quaternary environmental change, glacial and periglacial environments, climate and environmental change, land cover and land use change, and biogeochemistry.

    Student testimonials

    Overview

    Physical Geography research at Keele focusses on past and contemporary processes to help understand environmental change. The Group has research strengths in the following key areas:

    • Biogeochemistry
    • Climate and environmental change, coastal dynamics, and land cover/land use change
    • Freshwater conservation and management.
    • Glacial and periglacial environments
    • Glacial geomorphology and ice sheet reconstruction
    • Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology.
    • Quaternary Environmental Change

    Research in Physical Geography is supported by funding from sources including the UK Research Councils, the Environment Agency, the Royal Society, Natural England, The Nuffield Foundation, the Royal Society of Chemistry, local councils and water companies.

    Research interests

    Blue and green carbon stores: Dr Peter Lawrence

    Ecography / Landscape Ecology and Geospatial Equity: Dr Peter Lawrence

    Fluvial geomorphology: Dr Tory Milner

    Freshwater ecology, conservation and management: Dr Tory Milner

    Geomorphology: Dr Richard Waller, Dr Katie Szkornik

    Glacier-Permafrost Interactions: Dr Richard Waller

    High-resolution shelf-sea palaeoceanography, marine palaeoecology and geochronology during the Holocene and late-Holocene: Dr Alix Cage

    Hydrology, hydrochemistry & hydroecology: Dr Zoe Robinson, Dr Katie Szkornik, Dr Peter Lawrence, Dr Tory Milner

    Ice core analysis for palaeoclimate and glaciology: Dr Alix Cage

    Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams: Dr Tory Milner

    Past & present glacial & periglacial processes: Prof Zoe Robinson, Dr Richard Waller

    Reconstruction of Quaternary environmental change: Dr Alix Cage, Dr Katie Szkornik 

     

    Research Staff and Students

    Physical Geography staff at Keele are supervising students in many of the areas listed under Research Interests.