Study with CDT SuMMeR

PhD projects, studentships and application guidance
Study with CDT SuMMeR

Applications for Cohort 1 of the CDT SuMMeR are now open, with PhD Studentships commencing from 1 October 2022.

Browse the opportunities being offered by our host institutions. 

Under each host name is a list of project titles with a named lead supervisor (select + to view these). The project title links to further detailed information.

If you wish to informally discuss any of our projects please contact the lead supervisor. Details on how to apply and eligibility are listed further down the page. If you require general information on the admissions process please contact cdt-summer-students@plymouth.ac.uk

The closing date for all applications is 16:00 on 23 May 2022.

Bangor University

See PhD opportunities with Bangor University for a full description of each project

  • CDTS103: Setting thresholds for good status in marine ecosystem management
    Prof Jan Geert Hiddink
    Email j.hiddink@bangor.ac.uk

  • CDTS122: Management approaches and tools to empower fishing communities
    Dr Shelagh Malham
    Email s.malham@bangor.ac.uk

University of Exeter

See PhD opportunities with the University of Exeter for a full description of each project

  • CDTS105: Investigating the history of Sussex kelp habitats and their impact on local communities
    Prof Callum Roberts
    Email: c.m.roberts@exeter.ac.uk
  • CDTS107: Past, present and future benefits from marine biogenic shellfish reef habitats
    Ruth Thurstan
    Email: r.thurstan@exeter.ac.uk
  • CDTS112:Using an interdisciplinary approach to elucidate pollution impacts and antimicrobial resistant pathogen dynamics across terrestrial, estuarine and marine environments
    Prof William Gaze
    Email: w.h.gaze@exeter.ac.uk

  • CDTS119: Characterising the dynamics around offshore wind farms by combining machine learning and oceanographic techniques
    Ian Ashton
    Email: iga202@ex.ac.uk
  • CDTS124: Factors limiting marine connectivity at a species’ range edge – the case of the pink sea fan, Eunicella verrucosa
    Dr Jamie Stevens
    Email: j.r.stevens@exeter.ac.uk

Heriot-Watt University

See PhD opportunities with Heriot-Watt university for a full description of each project

  • CDTS104: Energy, Technology, Behaviour, Culture and Regulation; The complex problems and transition engineering solutions for the future of local, sustainable fishing
    Prof Susan Krumdieck
    Email: s.krumdieck@hw.ac.uk
  • CDTS108: Exploring geovisualisations as place-based planning tools for collaborative marine and coastal management 
    Dr Lauren McWhinnie
    Email: l.mcwhinnie@hw.ac.uk
  • CDTS113: Evaluating environmental and economic implications of management measures for the UK scallop fishery
    Dr Marija Sciberras
    Email: m.sciberras@hw.ac.uk

  • CDTS115: Understanding the biodegradation and residence time of microplastics in the ocean
    Dr Tony Gutierrez Email:
    Email: tony.gutierrez@hw.ac.uk
  • CDTS116: Improving the future sustainability of fishing communities in the Firth of Clyde
    Dr Andrew Johnson
    Email: a.f.johnson@hw.ac.uk
  • CDTS121: Offshore wind farms effects on ocean fronts and seabirds
    Prof Stephen Votier
    Email: s.votier@hw.ac.uk

University of Plymouth

See PhD opportunities with the University of Plymouth for a full description of each project

  • CDTS118: Revealing the hidden identity and toxicity of priority chemical pollutants released during microplastic degradation and additive leaching in marine and coastal environments
    Dr Michael Wilde
    Email: Michael.wilde@plymouth.ac.uk

Plymouth Marine Laboratory

See PhD opportunities with Plymouth Marine Laboratory for a full description of each project

  • CDTS111: Building evidence for action: Novel assessment of ocean acidification impacts around the UK
    Dr Helen Findlay
    Email: hefi@pml.ac.uk
  • CDTS117: Butt Out: A transdisciplinary approach in understanding and addressing the risks of littered cigarette butts
    Dr Matthew Cole
    Email: mcol@pml.ac.uk

Applications

To submit your application, please send the following information to cdt-summer@plymouth.ac.uk

  • A two-page curriculum vitae (CV). Please do not include personal identifiers such as your portrait photograph on your CV.
  • A personal statement/covering letter (no longer than 1000 words) which explains why you consider yourself to be a suitable candidate for the PhD Project advertised, what qualifications, experience and skills you have that support your application, and what your aspirations are following on completion of this PhD. Please ensure you state the PhD Project Reference Code for which you are applying on your personal statement/covering letter.
  • Complete the EDI survey (please note this is for EDI monitoring purposes only, is anonymous and is not linked to your application).
  • Optional: SuMMeR appreciates and values differences and seeks to attract, develop and retain a diverse mix of talented people that will contribute to and benefit from the CDT. If you wish to do so, please provide any contextual information that is relevant to your prior attainment and to your educational pathway to this point. For example, if you are returning to the education system after a period of prolonged absence, you may, if you wish, list any relevant professional experience/qualifications that you have gained. Or, if your prior attainment was affected by extenuating circumstances that you wish to share with us, please do so (up to 500 words).
The closing date for applications is 16:00 BST on 23 May 2022.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview, which will be held online from the week commencing 6 June 2022. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received a response by this date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Eligibility

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree in an appropriate subject and preferably a relevant Masters qualification or similar experience.
Each applicant may apply for a studentship on up to three projects. Where more than one project is applied for, the supervisors of all those projects will be made aware that other applications have been made.
CDT SuMMeR studentships are partially funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which applies the eligibility criteria laid down by its parent body, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and co-funded by the respective Hosting Partner institutes. UKRI provides details on its training grants in its Terms and Conditions for Training Funding document, including its Training Grant Guide, which can be found on the UKRI website.
The studentship is supported for three years and eight months. All UKRI-funded PhD students will be eligible for the full award – both the stipend to support living costs (£16,062 per annum pro rata at the 2022/23 rate), and fees at research organisations’ UK rate. Regrettably, for this first cohort, we are unable to accept international students because the necessary immigration visa licences are not yet in place. Citizens of Ireland can exercise Common Travel Area rights (and do not require a student visa to study in the United Kingdom).
In case of uncertainty, the planned university of registration should be contacted for eligibility advice; or the CDT SuMMeR Programme Office: cdt-summer-students@plymouth.ac.uk 

More information about SuMMeR