Determining the dietary accumulation and toxicity of nanoplastics and nanomaterials in fish

Director of Studies (DoS): Dr Nathaniel Clark. Telephone: 01752 587544

2^nd Supervisor: Dr Miguel Gomez-Gonzalez (miguel.gomez-gonzalez@diamond.ac.uk) 

3^rd Supervisor: Dr Lee Hutt 

4^th Supervisor: Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS 

Applications are invited for a four-year PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 1 October 2024.

Plastic pollution represents a global environmental challenge. Larger pieces of plastic can degrade to produce and release nanoplastics (NPs; <1 micron) that can enter the tissues of animals. In fish, NPs can pass across the gut epithelium in a matter of hours and then distribute around the rest of the internal organs. 

Pollution such as NPs do not occur alone in the environment, but rather in the presence of other pollutants (or co-contaminants). These other pollutants may have effects on how the NPs enter animals, and the subsequent effects they may have. Other common pollutants include engineered nanomaterial (such as zinc oxide), as their manufacturing is increasing due to their use in electronic devices. However, the effect of combined NP and ENM exposure on animal physiology remains poorly understood. 

This 4-year, fully funded project will continue to understand the effect of plastic pollution from dietary exposures (e.g., ingestion) in fish combined with the presence of zinc oxide ENMs. 

The methodologies used in the project include cell culture and dietary (feeding) studies. All necessary training in animal husbandry, experimental methodologies, and sample analysis (both at the University of Plymouth and Diamond Light Source) will be provided as part of your training. 

The time for this project will be split across the University of Plymouth (50%) and Diamond Light Source (50%) to maximise your experience and training from the two institutions. 

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in an appropriate subject or a relevant Masters qualification (e.g., Biology, Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Ecotoxicology or similar). Knowledge and experience in either Biology or Toxicology is desirable.   

Regrettably, for this studentship, we are unable to accept international students because the necessary immigration visa licences are not in place. Citizens of Ireland can exercise Common Travel Area rights (and do not require a student visa to study in the United Kingdom).

The studentship is supported for 4 years and includes full Home tuition fees plus a stipend of £19,237 per annum 2024/25, plus a £2,000 per annum stipend top-up. The studentship will only fully fund those applicants who are eligible for Home fees with relevant qualifications. 

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Dr Nathaniel Clark.

Please see our apply for a postgraduate research programme page for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application. 

For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our apply for a postgraduate research programme page or contact the Doctoral College at research.degree.admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview in the week commencing the 29 July 2024. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received a response within six weeks of the closing date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.