Biological Sciences
We welcome proposals for postgraduate research in all of these areas
- Ecology and evolution
- Ecophysiology and development
- Animal behaviour
- Marine biology
- Marine conservation
- Applied biology
- Biological responses to global change
Postgraduate research programmes
Although you can do research in any of the areas above, you may wish to look at these programmes:
Biodiversity and climate change
"My research focuses on the current impacts of climate change on wildlife, from field-based work on butterflies to synthetic analyses of global impacts on a broad range of species across terrestrial and marine biomes."
Professor Camille Parmesan, University of Plymouth Marine Institute
Professor Camille Parmesan is the National Aquarium Chair in the Public Understanding of Oceans and Human Health at the University. As well as this role, she is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Geology and a Senior Research Fellow in the Environmental Science Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
Camille’s pioneering research papers have produced clear evidence that plants and animals across the world are being impacted on by our changing climate, resulting in her receiving a range of international awards such as the ‘Outstanding woman working in climate change’ and recognition from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for her lead author contribution to its Nobel Prize-winning report.
Camille’s work at Plymouth will include looking at changes in nature due to the changing climate and how this could affect human health. Her ideas on assisted migration, helping species survive climate change by actively moving them, saw her named as one of the 27 ‘brave thinkers of our time’ by Atlantic magazine alongside the likes of Barack Obama and Apple’s Steve Jobs. She works actively with governmental agencies and NGOs to help develop conservation assessment and planning tools aimed at preserving biodiversity in the face of climate change.
Marine Station
Our students have access to the Marine Station, a state-of-the-art teaching and research facility that serves all our marine-based courses including civil engineering, earth sciences and marine biology.
Situated on the shores of Plymouth Sound as part of our ‘Waterfront Campus’, the facility offers labs and classrooms extending out into the natural environment, a wet lab for sample examination and analysis, a seawater aquarium, field equipment storage and changing facilities. It is also the base for our research vessels and a centre of excellence for diving.
Postgraduate Research Coordinators
If you are thinking about becoming a postgraduate researcher at the University of Plymouth, you are welcome to contact the Postgraduate Research Coordinators in your field of interest.
They will discuss potential supervisors with you and answer any questions you might have about embarking on a research degree in their research area.
You may also be interested in:
How to apply for a research degree
Do you need more information about admissions requirements?
We offer a wide variety of degrees, including ResM research degrees, Professional Doctorates and MPhil and PhD doctorate opportunities.
