About the Project
This PhD will develop quantum machine-learning methods to forecast extreme environmental hazards such as storms, floods, and wildfires. The project will explore how large environmental datasets can be compressed and learned using tensor networks combined with machine learning architectures on quantum computers. Improving the anticipation of extreme events will support resilient decision-making for emergency response, infrastructure, energy networks, and risk management, helping to protect communities and services.
The project will address four linked questions. First, can the high-dimensional environmental systems be compressed into low-dimensional latent representations via tensor networks that preserve and emphasise the early indicators of extreme events? Second, can quantum time-series forecasting models then learn the resulting dynamics, and detect the emergence of such indicators? Third, how can these indicators be designed to sample the time-series and output the warning to the limited output space of the quantum computer? Fourth, when forecasting rare, high-impact weather events, do quantum machine-learning models offer a real advantage over classical approaches in the presence of hardware noise? Can the noise be mitigated for a near-term benefit, or must we wait for fault-tolerant quantum computing for operationally useful predictions?
This project will be supported by Qronon. Qronon is the first UK company developing quantum- and machine-learning-enabled forecasting tools that can deliver precision warnings of floods, fires and hurricanes days before they strike.
Qronon will provide a key industrial and commercialisation perspective, keeping the project grounded in terms of developing methods that are feasible for near-term deployment for real-world impact.
The i-Risk Doctoral Focal Award
i-Risk PhD research offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the generation of new knowledge in the forefront of informatics. i-Risk cohorts will advance understanding and deliver innovative tools and solutions for multi-hazard systemic risk resilience and sustainability practice. Doctoral Researchers will undertake a structured training programme and partner co-created interdisciplinary research projects.
Our Vision
The vision of i-Risk is to train the next generation of research practitioners and leaders who will be at the forefront of collaborative research and:
Integrate informatics with understanding of evolving risk throughout the environment
Collaborate with a broad range of partners from industry, government agencies, global organisations (e.g., the United Nations) and Non-Government Organisations to ensure research directly informs policy and practice, delivering widespread impact.
Core Research Themes
i-Risk builds on 4 leading UK institution’s long-standing strengths at the vanguard of informatics, multi-hazard risk, and resilience research, with unparalleled facilities and >70 multidisciplinary academic supervisors for subject-specific support, providing students with an exceptional research environment.
i-Risk has four core research themes:
Observations, monitoring and understanding
Deploying nascent technologies and intelligent observation/monitoring/experimental approaches to gather rich data to understand evolving hazards.
Modelling and understanding processes/risk
Developing data analytics approaches/tools to model and understand intertwined natural, social, and engineering systems, enabling analysis and characterisation of multi-hazard systemic risks.
Forecasting, prediction and early warning
Predicting and forecasting hazard risks for timely, reliable warnings, facilitating elective risk mitigation and community/infrastructure resilience.
Risk communication and management solutions
Delivering innovative tools and solutions supporting sustainable multi-hazard systemic risk management, rendering hazard/risk information accessible to/intelligible by end-users/stakeholders, advancing sustainability practice and policy.
Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Please note that interviews are anticipated to be held remotely via Microsoft Teams week commencing 29 June 2026.