Solutions for the Marine Environment (SERVO) PhD studentships

Delivering progress on key global challenges related to marine sustainability through innovative, solutions-focused and high impact research
Getty image 1183696033. Fishing net caught on coral reef underwater. Research Festival 2021. Engineering solutions for marine plastic pollution.
The SERVO (Solutions for thE maRine enVirOnment) PhD studentships have been developed by the Marine Institute to deliver progress on key global challenges that align with the Institute’s research priorities: towards net zero, sustainable blue economy, safe seas, healthy oceans, and digital ocean. It seeks to harness global expertise in pursuit of world-leading, high impact marine and maritime science for a sustainable future.
 

Scope

These studentships aim to address global challenges related to marine sustainability through novel and timely research that is solutions-focused and of high impact. Outcomes should have measurable positive effects on the marine environment. This could include (but is not limited to) significant advances or innovations in:
  • maritime efficiency and clean operations;
  • maritime cyber security and navigation;
  • offshore renewable energy generation;
  • safeguarding marine biodiversity;
  • maintaining ecosystem services;
  • reducing marine pollution, including inputs from land and rivers;
  • mitigating the effects of climate change on the marine environment;
  • generating knowledge relevant to policy or legislation for sustainable management of the marine environment;
  • aspects of human behaviour change in direct support of the above.
The scheme encourages proposals that would be difficult to fund via traditional routes.

Mechanism

The scheme aims to fund three studentships per year, for three years (2025–2027), supporting a total of nine studentships. Each studentship provides full funding for 3.5 years (followed by a self-funded 'write-up' period). Funding includes full Home or International tuition fees plus an annual stipend that reflect the University rates per annum. Bench fees (to cover research costs) will also be funded up to a maximum limit.
The supervisory team should be led by a University of Plymouth academic as the Director of Studies (DoS) but should also include leading national or international co-supervisors from relevant academic and/or industrial sectors.
The scheme offers three routes to fund PhD studentships, as outlined below.
Pathways
  1. Staff-led single studentship for open recruitment
    • the DoS / supervisory team submit a proposal for a standalone project, to be completed by one student.
  2. Staff-led multiple studentships for open recruitment
    • the DoS / supervisory team devise a multi-faceted research topic and submit a proposal for interrelated studentships, to be completed by two or three students. For these proposals, it is essential to outline: a) the added value of a multiple student approach; and b) the extent to which each studentship could stand alone, if necessary, avoiding any critical interdependencies.
  3. Student-led single studentship
    • the prospective student develops a proposal in collaboration with a member of University of Plymouth academic staff (and associated co-supervisors), who submits a proposal on behalf of the named student as a standalone project, to be completed by the named student.

Selection

The following selection criteria will be used across all types of proposals:
  • overall excellence of proposal;
  • track record of research team;
  • potential to deliver significant measurable benefits at scale in terms of sustainability.
In addition, if a proposal comprises more than one studentship:
  • clear rationale on the added value of multiple students.
 

How to apply

The call for project proposals for 2025 is due to open very soon. Please standby while all details are finalised.

Application forms are provided for orientation purposes only at this time. Check for version updates when the call opens. The closing date for submissions for a project start in October 2025 is anticipated to be Monday 16th September 2024 at 12:00 noon. Staff keen to participate in the student-led pathway should express their interest to marineinstitute@plymouth.ac.uk providing a short list of keywords relevant to their research areas that align with the aims of the scheme.

Staff-led pathways

Proposals should be prepared using the Proposal Submission Form available for download below, which includes further information and full details of what is required. For the multiple pathway, separate copies of the submission form should be completed for each studentship and submitted together.
Open recruitment candidates can browse projects once they are available. Projects are typically advertised online between October–January and are published on our postgraduate research studentships page. Adverts will contain a link to the online application portal.

Student-led pathway

Project ideas should be prepared by the candidate using the Proposal Development Form available for download below, which includes further information and full details of what is required. These proposals for development should be sent to the proposed lead supervisor (University of Plymouth staff member) as soon as possible and by Friday 16th August 2024 at the latest for consideration for the 2024–25 cycle. Fully developed proposals should be prepared using the Proposal Submission Form available for download below and submitted by staff on behalf of the candidate.
In relation to this scheme, please only contact staff who have expressed an interest in considering candidate proposals. These staff and their topics of interest in relation to this call (in brief) are featured on the 'staff contacts' tab below. View their topics of interest in more detail in the drop-down section underneath or explore their staff profiles for further information. Do check back regularly, as the list of participating staff members is very likely to grow longer, even after the call has opened.

Application forms

Application forms are provided here for orientation purposes only at this time. Please check you have the latest version when the call opens.

People

Staff research topics of interest in relation to this call (in detail)
Dr Benjamin Ciotti: fish ecology and physiology; early life stages; fish habitat use; recruitment dynamics; field ecology; feeding, growth and condition
Dr Sarah Gall: marine conservation, fisheries management, plastic pollution, socio-ecological systems
Dr Martyn Hann: floating offshore renewable energy, dynamic power cables, Operations & Maintenance, eco-engineering
Professor John Spicer: safeguarding marine biodiversity (low oxygen, plasticity, transgenerational effects, laboratory selection); maintaining ecosystem services (biodiversity & ecosystem function, decomposition, strandline model system)
Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS: plastic pollution – solutions, alternatives and substitutes to plastic, microplastics from paint, microplastics from textiles
 

Marine Research Plymouth PhD studentship

If you're interested in the SERVO PhD studentships, you may also be interested to learn more about the Marine Research Plymouth PhD studentship.
This studentship brings together research staff from across Marine Research Plymouth, providing a springboard for collaborative research excellence and student prospects.
Close up view of plants on Cornish cliff, with view of sea and blue skies in background