PhD studentships
Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) works with a number of University partners to train tomorrow’s leaders in Environmental Science. These collaborations, known as Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs), offer postgraduate studentships and training across the full range of multidisciplinary environments, helping to enrich the student experience. Each DTP will create a strong and active community of students that are able – and encouraged – to integrate, work, and learn together. Students will receive in-depth, advanced research training, as well as training in the professional and transferable skills essential in today's economy.
PML is a multidisciplinary, internationally renowned, strategic marine research centre. We have a number of prestigious and exciting opportunities for outstanding students wishing to conduct PhD projects in our areas of research excellence: Marine Ecology and Society, Marine Processes and Observations and Environmental Intelligence
Quick links:
From sea spray to atmospheric chemistry: Investigating underexplored trace gas sources in the marine atmosphere
Primary supervisor:
Dr Mingxi Yang, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (miya@pml.ac.uk)
Co-supervisors:
Prof Lucy Carpenter, University of York (lucy.carpenter@york.ac.uk)
Prof Thomas Bell, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (tbe@pml.ac.uk)
Dr Frances Hopkins, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (fhop@pml.ac.uk)
Previously titled: ‘COCO-VOC studentship opportunity: Sniffing organic gases emitted from atmospheric particulates and understanding their importance.’
The cycling of organic carbon above the ocean is not well understood. In the marine atmosphere, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react with hydroxyl radicals (OH) and determine the reactivity of the atmosphere. These gases also act as precursors to organic aerosols (atmospheric particulates), which can seed/brighten marine clouds and modulate the amount of the sun’s energy reaching the Earth’s surface. The surface oceans are known to be both a source and sink of a wide range of VOCs; This PhD studentship will investigate whether organic aerosols can also emit VOCs.
Closing date for applications: tbc. Proposed start date: Feb – Oct 2026
ARIES PhD Studentship
The bigger picture: integrating plankton imaging techniques to explore ecosystem structure and function
Hosted at Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Supervisors
Elaine Fileman, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Marine Ecology & Society group
Dr Cecilia Liszka, Ecosystems Team, British Antarctic Survey
Dr Eoin O’Gorman, University of Essex
Professor Pennie Lindeque, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Marine Ecology & Society group
Marine plankton communities are sensitive indicators of environmental change and play a vital role in energy flow and carbon cycling in the ocean. Understanding how these communities are structured, and the factors that influence their organisation, is essential for predicting changes in ecosystem function, fisheries productivity and the biological carbon pump. As imaging technologies become increasingly accessible alongside traditional net sampling, new opportunities are emerging to study plankton through the lens of size spectra. Size-based approaches link community structure to trophic dynamics, food web interactions, and carbon export processes.
This project will use size-based imaging technologies of marine plankton communities to improve understanding of ecosystem function, inform ecosystem-based management, and support global efforts to monitor ocean health and climate change impacts.
The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 7 January 2026
Ecology of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems: connecting functional diversity and resilience
Supervisors: Professor Kerry Howell, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Dr Angela Stevenson, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth
Ms Heidi Tillin, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Dr Ana Hilario, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs), such as deep-sea coral gardens and sponge fields, are biodiversity hotspots that deliver critical ecosystem services through their complex structures. However, they face increasing threats from fishing, resource extraction, and climate change. Functional diversity -the range of ecological roles species fulfil within a community – is central to ecosystem resilience, but remains poorly understood in VMEs. Quantifying VME functional diversity can help assess vulnerability and guide conservation of VMEs. This project will advance our understanding of VME functional ecology and develop science-based indicators of ecosystem health, directly supporting international policy goals for deep-sea biodiversity protection.
The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 7 January 2026
Enhancing Connectivity and Natural Capital in Seascape-scale Coastal Restoration
Supervisors: Professor Graham Underwood, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex
Professor Thomas Cameron, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex
Dr Stephen Watson, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Ms Anna Cucknell, Zoological Society of London
The restoration and recovery of coastal seas is a United Nations priority to address the global biodiversity crisis. Coastal seas consist of seascapes of connected habitats and seascape-scale restoration can improve ecological status and increase ‘natural capital’, the value contributed by healthy ecosystems to human society. Much previous restoration has been focussed on individual habitats, but seascape scale restoration needs consideration of inter-habitat connectivity, cross-habitat functioning and the roles of key species. This is a new field of research for coastal seascapes in NW Europe, with the current lack of knowledge a bar to effective restoration.
The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 7 January 2026
NERC GW4+ DTP
Marine Ecosystems and Biogeochemistry under Future Climate Change
Supervisors
Lead Supervisor: Lee de Mora, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Co-Supervisors:
Fanny Monteiro, Bristol, School of Geographical Sciences
Gennadi Lessin, PML, Environmental Intelligence
The ocean is facing numerous threats linked to climate change, including warming, acidification, habitat loss and biodiversity loss. This project will assess how climate change impacts the marine ecosystem and its services like carbon sequestration or food production. Using simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) and similar products, the candidate will focus their research on critical questions such as:
• Will marine ecosystems recover under net-zero scenarios?
• How will climate policies impact ocean life?
• How well do CMIP models capture the marine ecosystem and associated services and what can be done to mitigate negative impacts?
• How do changes in the ocean circulation impact marine ecosystems?
• Can Marine Protected Areas be better delineated using climate projections?
• What would a comprehensive marine ecosystem stress map include?
• How will artificial intelligence transform Earth System Modelling?
Closing date for applications: Thursday 8 January at 23:59GMT
The role of ocean colour feedbacks in weather extremes forecasting
Supervisors
Lead Supervisor: Fanny Monteiro, Bristol, Geographical Sciences
Co-Supervisors: Sana Mahmood, UK Met Office and University of Bristol, Geographical Sciences
Dale Partridge, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Accurate forecasting of marine and atmospheric extremes is critical for protecting coastal ecosystems, supporting sustainable economies, and enhancing climate resilience. Yet current forecasting neglect key feedbacks between ocean biology and the atmosphere, particularly the role of ocean colour driven by phytoplankton. These feedbacks can be especially strong during weather extremes, when rapid changes in phytoplankton affect surface heating.
This PhD will investigate: To what extent do ocean colour feedbacks alter ocean-atmosphere interactions during weather extremes on the Northwest European shelf? How can these processes be integrated into next-generation forecasting systems?
The application deadline is Thursday 8 January 2026 at 2359 GMT
