National University of Singapore

Duration: 4 years
Start date: August 2027
Supervisor: Professor Mengze Li

The Department of Geography at the National University of Singapore (NUS) invites applications for a four-year PhD fellowship in urban climate and air pollution observation and modelling, beginning in August 2027. The PhD student will join Professor Mengze Li's research group and conduct research on the climate and atmospheric environment of high-rise, high-density tropical cities, with Singapore serving as an exceptional urban laboratory.

Research scope

The project will combine urban environmental observations, multi-source geospatial data, and modelling to improve our understanding of urban climate and air quality in complex high-rise environments.

A central component of the PhD will involve field observations using environmental sensors and research-grade instruments to monitor variables related to urban climate, boundary-layer meteorology, and air pollution. These observations may be integrated with other sources of information, including satellite and other remote-sensing products, GIS and urban morphology data, meteorological and reanalysis datasets, and other relevant urban datasets.

The candidate may develop and apply process- or physics-based numerical models, statistical approaches, machine learning/AI models, or combinations of these methods.

Potential research themes may include the interactions among urban form, heat, radiation, ventilation and air pollution; spatial and vertical variability of the urban atmospheric environment; pollutant transport and dispersion within high-rise neighbourhoods; integration of ground observations and remote sensing; and development of improved approaches for simulating or predicting urban climate and air quality.

These themes are intentionally broad. Applicants are expected to develop their own PhD research proposal, drawing on their previous research experience, methodological strengths, and scientific interests. The final research questions and methodological framework will be developed together with the supervisor after admission.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate interested in urban climate, atmospheric science and/or air pollution.

Applicants from backgrounds including Geography, Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, Environmental Science or Engineering, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Remote Sensing, GIS, Physics, Data Science, or related fields are encouraged to apply.

Strong candidates should demonstrate:

• English-language requirement: Applicants who do not have a degree from an English-speaking university are required by the Department of Geography to provide evidence of English proficiency. The current minimum requirement is IELTS 7.0 or the corresponding TOEFL requirement. For TOEFL tests using the previous scoring scale, the minimum is 100 overall, including at least 22 in writing.
• Substantial previous research experience, including at least two research projects, each lasting six months or longer;
• Strong scientific writing and oral communication skills in English;
• Ability and motivation to conduct independent research and develop an original PhD research proposal;
• Interest in combining observational data with quantitative modelling and data analysis;
• Willingness to participate in field measurements in Singapore's tropical urban environment.
• Experience in one or more of the following would be particularly valuable: environmental or atmospheric instrumentation, sensor networks, micrometeorological measurements, air-quality monitoring, remote sensing, GIS/spatial analysis, numerical modelling, scientific programming, machine learning/AI, or analysis of large environmental datasets.
• Research publications are strongly preferred. Ideally, applicants will have at least one manuscript submitted or published in a peer-reviewed journal. First-author publications are particularly valued, although substantive co-authored publications will also be considered.

Fellowship and research environment

The position is expected to be supported by a four-year NUS Research Scholarship/fellowship, subject to NUS scholarship conditions and satisfactory academic progress. Under the current NUS Research Scholarship rates, an international PhD student receives a stipend of Singapore dollar $3000 per month, together with a full tuition-fee subsidy. After successfully passing the PhD Qualifying Examination, eligible PhD scholars receive an additional S$500 per month. Current stipend rates are higher for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. The typical scholarship period for a PhD is four years. NUS provides an internationally oriented and interdisciplinary research environment, and the Department of Geography has an active community working across physical geography, environmental change, geospatial science and human-environment research. Singapore itself offers a particularly exciting setting for this research. Its tropical climate, high population density, extensive high-rise development and diverse urban forms provide opportunities for observations and modelling that are difficult to reproduce elsewhere.

Full-time graduate students may apply for NUS on-campus accommodation. Because demand exceeds supply, accommodation cannot be guaranteed, although new first-year PhD students may receive special consideration. Singapore also has an extensive public-transport network, making travel between the university, research sites and residential areas convenient.

We welcome applications from candidates worldwide who are enthusiastic about developing rigorous, original research on urban climate and air quality and who would like to combine field observations, geospatial/environmental data and advanced modelling in one of the world's most distinctive high-density urban environments.

How to apply

Please fill out this Google Form to indicate your interest. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via email. https://forms.gle/pdF2ve8T31bEBdYD7