Candice Charlton was recently awarded a PhD in Applied Physics (January 2026) from the Faculty of Science and Technology at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. Her interest in Physics began in third form at the Convent of Mercy Academy ‘Alpha’, where her curiosity about how things worked met the equations that could describe them. She went on to complete a BSc in Energy and Environmental Physics with a minor in Science Education at the UWI, supported by on-campus employment, family and the grace of God. Throughout her postgraduate studies, she received the Departmental Award and the UWI Postgraduate Scholarship, which supported her progression in advanced research in the MPhil/PhD programme.

Supervised by Prof Tannecia Stephenson and Prof Michael Taylor, her doctoral thesis, titled “Investigating bushfire variability, risk and future potential across Jamaica”, examines the effects of climate change on bushfire incidents in Jamaica and projects mid-century changes in bushfire risk. This research is the first of its kind in Jamaica and the Caribbean and has informed the development of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica’s Bushfire Warning Index. Findings from her study are intended to further inform evidence-based guidelines for integrated disaster management at the local and regional levels.

During the latter part of her PhD, she worked as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Physics, sharing her knowledge and mentoring young Physicists. Her exceptional work during her PhD journey has led to her current role as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Climate Change at the Technical University of Crete, as well as joining the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society, Imperial College London, as an affiliate member. Beyond academia, she has been an active youth leader in her church community. Through her philanthropy, Candice has supported several undergraduate students in the faculty through her Physics Bursary, care packages, and counselling sessions. She actively seeks to live out her favourite bible verse, 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” It reminds her that whether she is focused on something for herself or others, the outcome must always glorify the Lord.

Photo cption: Dr. Candice Charlton