PhD Studentship: Future-proofing the Environment: Evaluating the Environmental Impacts of Next-generation Plastics

Scientific background:

Increasing production, low recycling rates (below 10%), and single-use packaging are driving a global crisis in plastic pollution, with millions of tonnes of plastic accumulating in ecosystems each year. In response, governments and industry are investing heavily in biodegradable alternatives to conventional fossil fuel-derived plastics. However, the perception that these materials are ‘safer’ for the environment means far less attention has been paid to their consequences for organisms and some of the more recent and promising alternative materials have not been tested at all. Emerging evidence suggests that because biodegradable plastics break down more rapidly than traditional plastics, they may be more immediately harmful. Wider assessment of the effects of these alternative materials on environmental health are urgently needed to determine whether they provide genuine ecological benefits over conventional plastics.

Research methodology:

A series of laboratory and in situ field experiments will compare the impacts of biodegradable plastics, conventional plastics and paper-based alternatives on aquatic ecosystems. Experimental manipulations will be conducted at environmentally relevant concentrations in the River Yare (Norfolk) and Breydon Water estuary (Great Yarmouth), representing freshwater and transitional marine environments where plastic litter commonly accumulates. Biodiversity associated with each treatment will be characterised at the beginning and end of the experiment. Ecosystem functioning will be assessed through measurements of sediment oxygen demand and carbon cycling using benthic chambers, and nutrient exchange from core incubations. Findings will provide much-needed evidence on whether recently developed biodegradable plastics offer ecological benefits over conventional plastics and will support policies aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of plastic pollution, including delivery of the UK Marine Strategy and UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.

Training:

The candidate will join the Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation group. The supervisory team will provide comprehensive training in experimental design, laboratory and field skills, ecotoxicology, biogeochemical cycling, taxonomy, bioinformatics, statistical analysis, and science communication. External training courses (e.g. mixed effects modelling) will be available and cohort training is provided by ARIES.

Person specification:

We are looking for a candidate who is enthusiastic about laboratory and fieldwork, ecology, toxicology, and ecosystem functioning.

Funding Details 

ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£21,805 p.a. for 2026/27) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge. 

For further information please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Closing Date: 23:59 on 16 December 2026

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