Funding

Funded (UK/EU students only)

Project code

BIOL5390924

Department

School of the Environment and Life Sciences

Start dates

February 2025

Application deadline

15 November 2024

Applications are invited for a BBSRC fully-funded three year PhD to commence in February 2025.

The PhD will be based in the Faculty of Science and Health and will be supervised by Dr Ian Hendy, Dr Fran Cabada-Blanco and Dr Ross Brown (University of Exeter). 

Successful applicants will receive a bursary to cover tuition fees for three years and a stipend in line with the UKRI rate, £19,237 for 2024/25. Bursary recipients will also receive a £1,500 p.a. for project costs/consumables. 

Costs for student visa and immigration health surcharge are not covered by this bursary. For further guidance and advice visit our international and EU students ‘Visa FAQs’ page.

The work on this project could involve:

  • Using a range of survey techniques to assess ecological uplift from implementing an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) project, in North Devon, UK
  • Undertaking biodiversity assessments to determine nursery and trophic functions and assessing impacts.
  • Determining environmental uplift from implementation of IMTA, e.g., bioremediation and blue-carbon assessments
  • Support the development of Net-Zero strategies for industry by leveraging evidence on low-impact, sustainable and regenerative methods employed in IMTA.

This exciting and innovative project aims to address climate change impacts and improve coastal ecosystem services using an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) approach using kelp and mussels. In industry, there are pressing needs to investigate new systems of ingredient and material production that sit more naturally with a net zero future, alongside efforts to make our current systems more sustainable. Research is needed towards sourcing of nutrient dense, low carbon, land-free diverse ingredients that can be produced using approaches compatible with Net Zero. There is an opportunity to increase ingredients sustainably farmed from regenerative ocean-sources and reduce the pressure on land for nutritious protein products. There is also the possibility to increase impact on enhancing biodiversity and improving water quality.

 

This IMTA project will be essential for trialing climate change mitigation, understanding kelp-derived blue-carbon biomass and productivity, bioremediation, biodiversity uplift, and maintaining the structure and function of temperate coastal ecosystems, to align with SDG 14.

 

Expected deliverables from the four-year program:
 

Yr 1 -3: with support from academia, and industry you will be expected to assess the natural capital services from a low-trophic aquaculture (LTA) demonstrator. Assessments will focus on monitoring three key metrics - biodiversity (e.g., trophic complexity, nursery function and community evenness), nutrient mitigation and carbon sequestration.  To obtain baseline information, a before-after-control-impact (BACI) study will be conducted. This will provide spatial and temporal data to determine the benefits of an IMTA facility from a regenerative aquaculture facility.

 

Yr 4. You will work closely with the partners to use the three years of data to provide a life-cycle analysis (LCA) of the LTA site. You will provide an economic assessment of the monetary value of natural capital services, including a scaling analysis and assessment of marine natural capital regulatory markets and a recommendation of the most promising natural capital services to develop for environmental and economic benefit, and contribution towards Net Zero.

 

Ocean foods are gaining popularity in restaurants and supermarkets. Consumers are concerned about sourcing from the oceans, both wild-catch and fish farming, so this low-impact and sustainable project provides alternate sources that can stimulate new routes for renovation and innovation, as well as potential links to regenerative sourcing (e.g., seaweed bio-stimulants).

Entry requirements

You'll need a good first ecological science degree from an internationally recognised university (minimum upper second class or equivalent, depending on your chosen course) or a Master’s degree in an appropriate subject. In exceptional cases, we may consider equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

You will need experience of managing several projects simultaneously, therefore project management skills are essential. You will have a deep understanding and direct experience of coastal ecological processes of multi-trophic systems, focusing upon kelp and mussels. You will also have skills with field survey techniques, with preference towards some of these research areas: (i) marine fauna (ii) fish (juvenile and adult life stages) (iii) blue-carbon biomass assessments and (iv) nutrient analysis to determine bioremediation. You will also have experience with (i) data analysis (ii) data management and (iii) able to effectively manage your time. Additionally, you will have excellent communication skills, and be able to work independently and within a team.

You will be provided with additional support with staff from the University of Portsmouth, Nestle R&D team, and Algapelago.

How to apply

We encourage you to contact Dr Ian Hendy (ian.hendy@port.ac.uk) to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project code.

When you are ready to apply, you can use our online application form. Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV.  Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process.

If you want to be considered for this funded PhD opportunity you must quote project code BIOL5390924 when applying. Please note that email applications are not accepted.