Director of Studies:
Dr Joan Alfaro-Lucas
Second Supervisor:
Professor Tracy Aze
Third Supervisor: Dr Lissette Victorero, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition
Fourth Supervisor:
Dr Michelle Harris
Second Supervisor:
Third Supervisor: Dr Lissette Victorero, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition
Fourth Supervisor:
Applications are invited for a 3.5 years PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 01 October 2027.
Project description
Scientific background
The potential exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources is creating an urgent need for scientifically robust approaches to the conservation of planet’s most remote, remarkable ecosystems, including hydrothermal vents. Vents harbour highly distinct, endemic and vulnerable animal communities patchily distributed along ocean ridges with contrasting geological, physical and geochemical characteristics. Yet identifying representative networks of habitats for protection requires understanding how species and ecological functions change among habitats, and which habitats make unique contributions to biodiversity.
The contrasting environments of ocean ridges provide a powerful global system for investigating the poorly understood patterns and processes driving species and functional diversity change (β-diversity) among scattered habitats in the deep sea, allowing these key knowledge gaps to be addressed.
The central hypothesis of this project is that the distinct attributes of the world’s ocean ridges drive different patterns of species and functional β-diversity in hydrothermal vent ecosystems. Testing this hypothesis will reveal why vent communities become different across space and environmental gradients and provide the evidence to identify representative and complementary habitats for conservation.
Research methodology
You will analyse an unpublished global database of vent species and their traits compiled by the supervisory team. You will apply state-of-the-art statistical modelling, including distance-decay and joint species distribution models, to test whether geological, physical and geochemical differences among ocean ridges explain contrasting biodiversity patterns and evaluate the relative roles of dispersal limitation and ecological niche sorting. Finally, you will quantify the distinctiveness of vent habitats to identify habitats that contribute the most to species and functional diversity, providing evidence to spatial conservation priorities.
Training
You will join a collaborative, multidisciplinary team of deep-sea scientists and develop expertise in (deep-sea) macroecology; global biodiversity database synthesis and curation; species and functional β-diversity analyses and advanced statistical modelling. This data- and analysis-driven training will develop advanced quantitative and transferable skills relevant to careers across academia and industry.
Person specification
We seek a perseverant, methodical and enthusiastic individual with a BSc degree in Biology or a related field. An interest in macroecology and strong quantitative analysis skills in R are essential.
References
Alfaro-Lucas, J.M., Chapman, A.S.A., Tunnicliffe, V., Bates, A.E. (2024). High functional vulnerability across the world’s deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities. Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences U.S.A. 121, e2403899121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2403899121
Alfaro-Lucas, J.M., Chapman, A.S.A., Tunnicliffe, V., Bates, A.E. (2024). High functional vulnerability across the world’s deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities. Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences U.S.A. 121, e2403899121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2403899121
Victorero, L., Samadi, S., O'Hara, T.D., Mouchet, M., Delavenne, J., Leprieur, F. and Leroy, B. (2023). Global benthic biogeographical regions and macroecological drivers for ophiuroids. Ecography 9, p.e06627. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.06627
Fenton, I.S., Aze, T., Farnsworth, A., Valdes, P., Saupe, E.E. (2023). Origination of the modern-style diversity gradient 15 million years ago. Nature 614, 708–712. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05712-6
Schwarzenbach, E. & Harris, M. (2025). Hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic lithosphere. Treatise of Geochemistry 3rd Edition Vol 2 p1-37 https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99762-1.00016-4
Glover, A., Arias, M.B., Bribiesca-Contreras, G., Copley, J.T., Dahlgren, T.G., Drazen, J.C., Drennan, R., Ingels, J., Jones, D.O.B., O'Malley, B.J., Rabone, M., Stewart, E.C.D. (2026). The environmental impacts of deep-sea mining. Current Biology 36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.03.014
Eligibility
Acceptable first degree subject(s): BSc degree in Biology or a related field in Marine Biology or Biology.
If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent.
ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend £21,805 p.a. for 2026/27 (2027/28 TBC) and a research training and support grant (RTSG).
A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university.
Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
NB: The studentship is supported for 3.5 years of the four-year registration period. The subsequent 6 months of registration is a self-funded ‘writing-up’ period.
Working part-time while receiving a stipend at the University of Plymouth is generally permitted, provided it does not conflict with the terms of your funding or visa requirements.
- Full-time jobs cannot be held alongside a full-time stipend.
- International students are generally limited to 20 hours of work per week
If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact
Dr Joan Alfaro-Lucas
Please view a list of
supporting documents to upload with your application.
For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our
how to apply for a research degree webpage or contact the Doctoral College at research.degree.admissions@plymouth.ac.uk
The closing date for applications on 16 December 2026.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview after the deadline. 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 their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.