Open Positions

We currently have two openings for PhD researchers (fully funded) as part of the IrrEO project. More details about positions, how to apply, and key deadlines can be found below.
PhD - Deep Learning for Global Irrigation Monitoring and Forecasting
This PhD project will develop deep learning (DL) techniques to detect and forecast irrigation practices across global agricultural systems using Earth Observation imagery. The project will address three key research questions: 
  1. Can DL outperform conventional machine learning in monitoring irrigation, and how does accuracy vary across indicators (e.g., irrigated area vs. volumetric abstraction)
  2. How transferable are DL models across different geographies (Europe, North America, Africa) and farming systems (smallholder vs. commercial)?
  3. Can DL, when integrated with physics-based crop models (e.g. AquaCrop-OSPy), improve forecasts of irrigation demand under climate, land-use, or management change? 
Tools developed by the project will provide intelligence for governments, donors, agribusiness, and regulators to support and enable sustainable and resilient water management.
Deadline for applications is 31 January 2026
PhD - What Makes Irrigation Work? Identifying Pathways to Successful Scaling of Small-Scale Irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa
This PhD will develop and apply data-powered positive deviance research approaches to uncover the factors that influence the success or failure of irrigation development across SSA. By leveraging unique high-resolution geospatial datasets generated through the IrrEO project at University of Manchester, the researcher will combine quantitative geospatial analysis with qualitative field-based methods (e.g. interviews, focus groups, or household surveys) to:
  1. Identify bright and dark spots of irrigation development through analysis of historical changes in irrigated cropland areas.
  2. Evaluate the contextual conditions – biophysical, socio-economic, and political – that are linked to irrigation expansion or stagnation.
  3. Assess how successful irrigation development (‘bright spots’) affects different communities, social groups, and local environments.
Deadline for applications is 19 December 2025

Other Opportunities

We are always keen to hear from talented, enthusiastic students and researchers with interests in our broad areas of research (see our research page for examples of recent and ongoing projects). If you're a student or researcher with a strong quantitative background and a passion for interdisciplinary work that addresses water, climate and agricultural sustainability challenges then we'd love to hear from you.

​There are a number of scholarships and fellowships (see details below for those most relevant to our group's research areas) for which we can support students and postdocs to apply for and we are happy to support and mentor you to develop a proposal to apply for one of these to join the group. If you'd like to explore any of these opportunities further, then get in touch with Tim via email including a copy of your current CV and a short description of your ideal research project. 

Postdocs​
  • University of Manchester Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellowships (DKOF) and Presidential Fellowships. Applications vary in terms of deadline and priority areas each year. Provides funding for a 5-year research fellowship and expenses at University of Manchester, and is open to applicants of all nationalities. Note that there is normally internal pre-selection rounds for this scholarship. 
  • Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships. Applications typically due in February each year. Provides funding for a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship and research expenses at a UK university and is open to applicants of all nationalities. Note that there is normally an internal pre-selection round for this scholarship. 
  • British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships. Applications typically due in June/July each year. Provides funding for a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship and research expenses at a UK university and is open to applicants of all nationalities. Note that there is normally an internal pre-selection round for this scholarship. 
  • AXA Research Fellowships. Provides funding for a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship and research expenses at a UK university and is open to applicants of all nationalities.
  • Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships. Applications typically due in September each year. Provides funding for up to 5 years including research expenses to conduct research at a UK university and is open to applicants of all nationalities. Note that there is normally an internal pre-selection round for this scholarship. 
  • European Space Agency Living Planet Fellowship. Applications typically due in December/January each year. Provides funding for a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship and research expenses at a UK university for research related to use of earth observation methods and data to address earth science and global sustainability challenges. The fellowship is 
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships. Applications typically due in September each year.  Provides funding for a 1-2 years postdoctoral fellowship at a UK university for candidates moving from elsewhere in Europe or outside Europe. 

PhD/Masters students
Undergraduate students
  • University of Manchester Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering (MACE) Summer Internships. Applications normally due in Spring each year. Funding for approximately 180 hours of summer work within Dr Foster and his group to support an ongoing research project and teaching development activities. Open to current MACE students across all disciplines.
  • We often have other undergraduate research opportunities through various funding sources and independent study options within degree programs, in particular for students already registered as an undergraduate or postgraduate at Manchester. Please send Tim an email if you're interested in our broad research areas and are keen to learn more about current and upcoming opportunities.