Fully-funded PhD: Policy-Ready Evidence for Living Green Walls: Methods and Metrics for Urban Greenery Decision-Making

Cities are increasingly turning to living walls and other forms of urban greenery to improve biodiversity, air quality, and climate resilience. Yet, robust scientific evidence on how these systems deliver environmental benefits remains limited.

This PhD will explore how green infrastructure supports ecosystem health and biodiversity in cities. Working with Manchester Met’s Smart Infrastructure Lab and partner urban sites, the successful candidate will collect and analyse real-world environmental data to evaluate how vegetation interacts with the built environment.

You will be supported by a multidisciplinary supervisory team spanning engineering, ecology, and environmental science, with access to state-of-the-art laboratories, field sensors, and data-analysis facilities. You will also join Manchester Met’s Doctoral College community, benefiting from specialist training, collaboration opportunities, and professional development.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated researcher passionate about environmental sustainability, data-informed science, and greener urban futures, eager to contribute to world-leading research with real societal impact.

Project aims and objectives

This project aims to generate robust scientific evidence on the ecological and environmental performance of urban green infrastructure.
Objectives include:

• Quantifying the biodiversity and environmental benefits of living walls and other green systems through field studies and environmental monitoring;
• Developing data-informed approaches to measure and explain ecological change;
• Assessing how design, maintenance, and local conditions influence environmental outcomes;
• Producing evidence-based insights to inform sustainable urban design and policy.

The project will advance academic understanding of how green infrastructure contributes to resilient, nature-positive cities.