PhD Studentship: The Microbial Edge: Unlocking Bivalve Survival in a Changing Ocean, NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for September 2026 Entry

About the Partnership

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP).  The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners:  British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology,  the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.  The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science. For further details about the programme please see http://nercgw4plus.ac.uk/

For eligible successful applicants, the studentships comprises:

• An stipend for 3.5 years (currently £20,780 p.a. for 2026/27) in line with UK Research and Innovation rates
• Payment of university tuition fees
• The budget for project costs is £9,000 which can be used for computer, lab, and fieldwork costs necessary for you to conduct your research.
• There is also a conference budget of £2,000 and individual Training Budget of £1,000 for specialist training

Project Aims and Methods

Marine bivalves such as mussels and oysters are vital for UK coastal ecosystems and support multi-million-pound aquaculture industries. However, their survival and performance are increasingly challenged by environmental stressors including heatwaves, salinity shifts and declining water quality. Understanding how these animals respond to such pressures is critical for predicting future ecosystem stability and safeguarding food security. Recent evidence points to the microbiome as a key determinant of host health and stress tolerance, but its role in bivalve resilience remains poorly defined. 

This PhD will investigate how microbiome composition influences the physiological performance of bivalves under environmental stress. Combining microbial community profiling with measures of animal physiology and health status, the project will identify host–microbe interactions that enhance or constrain resilience. Research will use UK coastal environmental gradients and laboratory experiments to disentangle mechanisms. 

The student will benefit from interdisciplinary training across three leading institutions: University of Exeter (Dr Robert Ellis) in bivalve physiology; Natural History Museum/Cefas (Dr David Bass) in microbial ecology and aquatic animal health; and the Roslin Institute (Dr Tim Bean) in bivalve genomics and host-pathogen interactions. The student will gain cutting-edge skills in molecular, ecological, and physiological approaches, preparing them for many career paths in marine science. 

Useful recruitment links:  

For information relating to the research project please contact the lead Supervisor via: r.p.ellis@exeter.ac.uk

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