Biosciences: Fully Funded Project Seagrass PhD Scholarship: The Influence of Water Quality on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Seagrass

Funding providers: Swansea University

Subject areas: Seagrass, Climate Change, Biochemistry, Water Quality 

Project start date: 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September) 

Project supervisors:

• Associate Professor Richard Unsworth (r.k.f.unsworth@swansea.ac.uk)
• Associate Professor Eva Sonnenschein

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Biosciences

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description: 

Understanding of the GHG emissions (sources) and removals (sinks) from natural habitats and the influence of anthropogenic factors on these are major knowledge gaps in how we manage the natural environment with respect to the risks of climate change. Seagrasses are a major potential stock of carbon, sequestering significant amounts of carbon annually, however, their distribution and health is compromised globally by elevated nutrients. These nutrients are leading to a breakdown of these habitats and potentially leaching carbon, in addition there may be further Greenhouse Emissions generated. Excess nutrients in other coastal and wetland habitats are leading to high levels of nitrous oxide and methane emissions, but data on this topic within seagrass is limited. This PhD will use the Milford Haven Waterway in West Wales (and potentially sites in Scotland) as case studies to examine the emissions of nitrous oxide and methane in the context of seagrass degradation in order to determine their drivers. The project will use a range of multi-disciplinary skills from biochemistry, ecology, molecular ecology and statistics.

Eligibility

Candidates must hold an UK Bachelor degree with a minimum of Upper Second Class honours in Biosciences or a related subject. Or overseas Bachelor degree deemed equivalent to UK Bachelor (by UK ECCTIS) and achieved a grade equivalent to UK Upper Second Class honours in Biosciences or a related subject.

Or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).

IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.0) or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

Funding Details

Additional Funding Information

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £19,237 for 2024/25).

Additional research expenses will also be available.

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