PhD studentship with Marine Research Plymouth

Four available topics:

Shelf Sea Productivity; Artificial Intelligence in Biological Observation;
Shark Distribution and Conservation; Imaging Carbon Export to the Deep Oceans

Plymouth has been at the forefront of global marine research for more than a century, and today it is home to the largest concentration of marine researchers in the UK. Come and join our vibrant community of marine PhD students. Applications are invited for a 3½ year PhD studentship to start on 1st October 2024.

Explore the following available projects:

How do Organic Nutrients Sustain Shelf Seas Productivity?

Second Supervisor (External Lead): Dr Katherine Helliwell

Lead Supervisor (Director of Studies): Professor Mark Fitzsimons

Third Supervisor: Dr Andy Rees

Marine phytoplankton play vital roles in regulating the global climate, contributing almost half of net primary production. A major factor controlling phytoplankton assemblages is the availability of crucial nutrients including nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), the supply of which can vary dramatically in space and time. The aim of this project is to integrate field and laboratory methodologies to further examine organic N and P usage and coordination by phytoplankton in the Western English Channel.

Use of AI and computer vision to develop next generation marine biological observing capability

Lead Supervisor (Director of Studies): Professor Kerry Howell

Second Supervisor: Dr James Clark

Third Supervisor: Dr Pierre Hélaouët

Predicting how ocean life will respond to pressures from increasing human use and climate change is the basis for science-informed decision-making. It requires development of models that enable forecasting of possible outcomes in 'what if' scenarios. This studentship will investigate current Artifical Intelligence (AI) capability to deliver ecologically meaningful metrics from image-based data; and in so doing develop the methods and tools to support the wider application of AI to image-based biological observations.

Sound of Sharks: assessing the spatial and temporal distribution of sharks in Plymouth Sound and surrounding waters to inform sustainable ecosystem management approaches

Lead Supervisor (Director of Studies): Dr Emma Sheehan

Second Supervisor: Professor David Sims

Third Supervisor: Dr Peter Miller

Elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) play a key role in maintaining ecosystem structure and function, building ocean-human connections through tourism, and underpin valuable recreational and commercial fisheries, but elasmobranchs are globally threatened with extinction. By combining acoustic telemetry (tagging and tracking), video surveys and Earth observation systems, this PhD will build a better understanding of elasmobranch movement and distribution surrounding Plymouth Sound, providing insight into the effect of current management measures on elasmobranchs and facilitate the development of improved management plans and conservation measures.

New approaches to image dynamic sinking behaviour in marine phytoplankton

Second Supervisor (External Lead): Dr Glen Wheeler

Lead Supervisor (Director of Studies): Professor Alex Nimmo-Smith

Third Supervisor: Dr James Clark

The rate at which phytoplankton cells sink to the deep ocean plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle. Phytoplankton cells can actively control their orientation and buoyancy, indicating that biological processes play a major role in determining carbon export, although the factors controlling sinking rates remain poorly understood. New technologies allowing direct imaging of sinking phytoplankton cells are providing novel insight and this project aims to use these technologies to better understand the biological processes that influence sinking rates in a range of marine phytoplankton and hence determine global carbon fluxes.

Eligibility

Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree in an appropriate subject or a relevant Masters qualification. Also, non-native English speakers must have an IELTS Academic score of that meets the minimum for the relevant PhD programme, or equivalent. Please refer to the individual projects for full details.

The studentship is supported for 3.5 years and includes full Home tuition fees plus a stipend at the 2024/25 rate (to be confirmed; compare the 2023/24 rate of £18,110 per annum). The last 6 months of the four-year registration period is a self-funded ‘writing-up’ period. The studentship will only fully fund those applicants who are eligible for Home fees with relevant qualifications. Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates (approximately £12,697 per annum at 2023/24 rate).

If you wish to discuss any of the projects further informally, please contact the relevant lead supervisor.

For further information and to apply for this position please visit https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/your-studies/research-degrees/postgraduate-research-studentships and select the studentship you would like to apply for. Please clearly state the name of the studentship that you are applying for on your personal statement.

For a list of supporting documents to upload with your application or more information on the admissions process generally, please visit How to Apply for a Research Degree webpage or contact the Doctoral College.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 8th January 2024.

Shortlisted candidates will be informed as soon as possible after the deadline, with interviews likely to take place in the second half of February. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received a response within six weeks of the closing date should consider that their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.