The University of Exeter’s Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy is inviting applications for PhD studentships fully-funded by the Convex Seascape Survey Project to commence on 8th January 2024. For eligible students the studentship will cover international tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £18,622 for 3.5 years full-time study.

This studentship is one of three international studentships that form part of the Convex Seascape Survey, a five-year, multi-partner, international collaborative investigation of blue carbon on continental shelves.

The overall aim of the project is to explore and quantify the nearshore ocean carbon sink, asking questions such as where is the carbon, how much is there, where did it come from and how is it affected by human activity?

The particular questions to be explored by the students could include assessing recovery of seabed carbon stocks after human disturbances, such as trawling and dredging, and the influence of dynamic natural sedimentation processes on ‘blue’ carbon uptake, storage and loss. The research could involve fieldwork from boats, both in South Africa and overseas, using a variety of techniques such as Remotely Operated Underwater Video, Baited Remote Underwater Video, scuba diving, seabed coring and sediment analyses as required.

Requirements:

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of science or technology. Training will be offered in the relevant methods to be used, but experience in boat handling, marine-based fieldwork and scuba diving would be advantageous.

How to apply?

• CV
• Letter of application (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).
• Transcript(s)/ academic records giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying)
• Reference letters from two referees familiar with your academic work. If your referees prefer, they can email the reference direct to pgrapplicants@exeter.ac.uk quoting the studentship reference number.
• If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, you may need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English.