PhD Studentship in Marine Ecology - Ecosystem Dynamics of Mesophotic Coral Reefs

Award Summary

100% UK home fees are covered and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate). Research costs covered.

Overview

The role complements a broader NERC funded project investigating Coral Reef Dynamics across Longitude, Latitude, and Depth. The goal is to further our ecological understanding of coral reefs across their full spatial extent to provide a groundbreaking framework with which to assess the shape and robustness of current and future assembly of coral reef biodiversity.

You will design and carry out your own research, with the support of an international supervisory team. Depending on your current and desired skills and interests, your PhD will combine fieldwork, lab-work, and/or data analysis, to address topics related to one of: Understanding depth-related plasticity in the physiology and behaviour of mesophotic reef fish.

Identifying depth-related changes in the structure and robustness of the ecological networks supporting reef fish communities at different positions along depth, latitude, and longitude gradients; challenging these networks under hypothesized future assemblage changes.

Determining how coral reef fish food webs and energy pathways are connected along extended depth gradients of 0-90 meters.

Based in Newcastle, and with international supervision, you will receive training and skills in some of the following: meta-barcoding, stable isotope analysis, trophic-web analysis, Bayesian statistics, wet-lab experimentation – respirometry, fieldwork. Previous experience in any of these areas is useful but not essential. Diving fieldwork is available with suitable qualifications and experience.

Number Of Awards

1

Start Date

September 2026

Award Duration

3 Years

Application Closing Date

2nd February 2026

Sponsor

School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University.

Supervisors

Dr Chancey MacDonald – SNES, Newcastle University

Other internationally recognised internal and external supervision, catered to candidate skills and interests.

Eligibility Criteria

You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project (Marine-, Trophic-, Network-, or Behavioural- Ecology, Ecological Physiology). 

Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills. 

The studentship covers fees at the Home rate (UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status and meet the residency criteria). International applicants are welcome to apply but will be required to cover the difference between Home and International fees.

How To Apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal via the ‘Apply’ button above.

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.  

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:  

• Search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8315F
• Research Area: Marine Science 
• Select ‘PhD Marine Science (full time) as the programme of study 

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:  

• A ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) - upload a document or write a statement directly in to the application form  
• The studentship code SNES302 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field  
• When prompted regarding your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal, but you can. 

In the ‘Supporting Documentation’ section please upload:

• your CV 

Contact Details

Dr Chancey MacDonald, chancey.macdonald@newcastle.ac.uk

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