This project is one of three topics available for the studentship. We anticipate supporting one position, which will be allocated to the best combination of candidate and project as they emerge from interviews across the pool of available topics.
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. 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.
Project description
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, with major consequences for biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and the services that coastal habitats provide. Temperate nearshore ecosystems, particularly intertidal and shallow subtidal zones, are highly dynamic and thermally extreme, exposing organisms to both marine (MHW) and atmospheric (AHW) heatwaves, often in rapid succession or simultaneously. Despite this, we have limited understanding of how these events interact and influence individual physiology, population resilience, and community-level dynamics.
This project will investigate how temperate coastal ecosystems respond to extreme heat events by combining high-resolution thermal mapping, experimental studies of organismal physiology, and community-scale experiments. It aims to identify physiological and ecological tipping points, revealing how compounding MHWs and AHWs affect organisms, species interactions, and ecosystem resilience, providing crucial insight for forecasting impacts under future climate change. You will:
- use a range of temperature data sources (in situ loggers, atmospheric and marine reanalysis data, Earth observations, historic WCO oceanographic time series) to identify and characterise realistic heatwave conditions in nearshore benthic habitats (intertidal and shallow subtidal rocky shores);
- assess physiological responses of marine invertebrates and seaweeds to MHWs and AHWs, using realistic simulations;
- identify whether and how ecological interactions shift in response to heatwaves, using community-scale mesocosm experiments.
The project will be based within collaborative, multi-disciplinary research groups at the University of Plymouth, Marine Biological Association, and Plymouth Marine Laboratory, with strong ties to national and international networks. You will benefit from regular research meetings, journal clubs, and training in:
- oceanography & meteorology (Wihsgott);
- marine invertebrate ecophysiology (Truebano);
- macrophyte physiology and community ecology (Smale);
- data analysis, critical thinking, scientific writing, presenting and communicating scientific results.
Your supervisors will help you identify your training and development needs, and use dedicated time and funding to support your career development. You will be supported to lead manuscripts, present at international conferences, and engage with impact-facing activity.
Eligibility
Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree in an appropriate subject or a relevant Masters qualification. We seek a motivated candidate with strong analytical skills, and interest in biodiversity, functional ecology, image/video analysis, and conservation. Experience with programming, statistical analysis, or spatial modelling is desirable but not essential, as full training will be provided. A willingness to join multi-week ship-based fieldwork is welcomed but not required.
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.
The studentship is supported for 3.5 years and includes full home tuition fees plus a stipend at the 2026/27 URS rate (to be confirmed; compare the 2025/26 URS rate of £19,215 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 (£13,745 per annum at 2025/26 rate, Band 2 programme). There is no additional funding available to cover NHS Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) costs, visa costs, flights, etc.
How to Apply
To apply, please click the ‘Online application’ link above. Please include the following documents with your application:
- CV / résumé
- Personal Statement (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).
- Degree certificates and transcripts (please provide interim transcript if you are still studying).
- Contact information for two referees familiar with your academic work.
- If relevant, proof of English Language Competency (applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language with an IELTS Academic of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or equivalent).
Please also see
here for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 2 February 2026.
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.
Marine Research Plymouth Alliance