PhD Studentship: Quantifying Ecosystem Service Provision of Kelp Farming for Nutrient Removal and Coastal Protection

Overview

This doctoral studentship focuses on quantifying the ecosystem services provided by kelp farming, including nutrient cycling and coastal protection. The research involves collaborating with industry partners such as the Cornish Seaweed Company to collate existing evidence, determine wave attenuation potential, quantify nutrient uptake and removal, and model these ecosystem services across space and time. The project is sponsored by Newcastle University and is supervised by Prof Pip Moore, Prof Clare Fitzsimmons, and Dr Dan Smale.

What you get

The award covers one hundred percent of Home tuition fees alongside a tax-free annual living allowance of at least £21,805, corresponding to the 2026/27 UKRI rate. Additional research funds are also provided as part of the award package. The duration of the studentship is three and a half years, with a planned start date of 4 January 2027.

Who can apply

Applicants must hold, or expect to achieve, a minimum of a 2:1 Honours degree or an international equivalent in a relevant discipline such as Marine Biology, Biology, or Ecology. Candidates are also required to hold an HSE SCUBA diving qualification or an equivalent certification such as CMAS 3 star or higher. The financial coverage for tuition fees applies at the Home rate, which includes UK applicants as well as EU applicants who hold settled or pre-settled status and satisfy residency requirements.

How to apply

Candidates must submit their applications through the university application portal by creating a postgraduate application. The specific programme of study is located via the course search using the code 8315F for PhD Marine Sciences full time in Marine Biology under the Marine Sciences research area. Applicants need to supply a personal statement in the further details section and enter the studentship code SNES319 into the partnership reference field. When prompted about a research proposal, applicants must choose the write proposal option, insert the exact project title from the advertisement, and omit uploading a separate proposal. A curriculum vitae must be uploaded under the supporting documentation section, and candidates must submit a separate application for each individual studentship.

Key dates

The final deadline for submitting applications is 18 November 2026. The studentship officially commences on 4 January 2027.