PhD Studentship: Eco-emotions, mental health and climate action across diverse UK youth communities Knowledge to inform conservation charity engagement

The Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (Centre-UB) is inviting applications for a Doctoral Studentship in association with our collaborative partner, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust (BBCWT) to start in October 2026.

It is known that the climate crisis increasingly shapes young people’s emotional lives, with previous research documenting experiences of eco-anxiety, grief and anger. While such emotions may motivate action, persistent distress can also erode young people’s wellbeing and agency.

Existing evidence is dominated by surveys, with a lack of experimental tools able to investigate how eco-emotions arise in response to climate change information and how they impact action. Furthermore, as social and cultural contexts shape how eco-emotions are experienced and articulated, also needed are qualitative explorations of what young people feel about the climate crisis and how they navigate and make meaning of these emotions.

To date, research has under-represented minority, diasporic and working-class young people, whose experiences of climate threat and access to nature may differ from current understandings. Listening to diverse youth is therefore essential to guide how to communicate and act with, rather than for, young people, supporting wellbeing-sensitive engagement aligned with conservation goals.

Based at the University of Birmingham, and in collaboration between the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust (BBCWT), this PhD project will employ a mixed-methods approach to ask, ‘How do young people experience, interpret and respond to eco-emotions, and how can this knowledge promote wellbeing and action?’

To address this question, the PhD will integrate experimental and ethnographic approaches in order to:
- Apply a mental imagery-based experimental psychopathology model of acute eco-emotions to test causal mechanisms and impacts;
- Investigate lived experiences across diverse youth communities;
- Translate findings into inclusive engagement strategies that will be undertaken with the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust.

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated applicant with a 1st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Psychology. An MSc degree in Psychology is desirable though not essential. Previous experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods is essential, as is a robust understanding of both individual and social approaches to understanding mental health. Experience of community/youth engagement (including on potentially sensitive topics such as mental health, and with marginalised groups) is also highly desirable.

To be considered for this PhD, please follow the instructions, click the 'Apply' button above. 

Application deadline: February 17 2026

Interviews for this studentship are expected to take place on the March 3 or March 10 2026.

Centre-UB studentships cover tuition fees, a maintenance stipend, support for research training, as well as research activity support grants. Due to funding stipulations set by UKRI, we are able to recruit up to 30% of international applicants to the cohort each year. You can find further details at https://www.centre-ub.org/studentships/call-for-applicants/

Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Dr Anna Lavis (a.c.lavis@bham.ac.uk) and Dr Stephanie Burnette Heyes (s.burnettheyes@bham.ac.uk).

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