Ecology and Environmental Microbiology Group

Departmental Studentships

Throughout the year we may advertise funded PhD and MSD studentships.

Our impact

Our research has had significant impact on the natural world.

Through our work we have helped protect a range of marine environments and species, improved conservation outcomes, and developed new tools and technology to help improve research across the globe.

Funding and facilities

We have an extensive network of national and international collaborations through projects funded by UKRI (especially NERC, and also BBSRC, STFC and ESRC), the EU, and various foundations and stakeholders. We also have access to funded PhD studentships via the NERC ARIES doctoral training partnership.

We have also been involved in several responsive projects and many major large directed research programmes from NERC, including: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Sustainability, Environmental Microbiology and Human Health, INSITE, Emerging Risks of Chemicals in the Environment, Understanding Urban Soil Properties, Functions, and Below-Ground Inter-Connections.

Our research is supported by state-of-the-art laboratory and facilities infrastructure, which includes the latest molecular ecology facilities (e.g. ddPCR, NGS and robotic high-throughput liquid handling systems), analytical equipment (including new triple-quadrupole GC-MS, and ICP-MS). We have large-scale mesocosm and microbiological cultivation facilities, as well as access to the marine and freshwater environments via our group’s new research vessels.

Working with stakeholders and end-users to understand and improve our environment

We offer many ways for you to access our expertise, including consultancy, collaborative and commissioned research and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

Below are some examples of industry, government and third-sector partners with whom we have recently collaborated:

Marine, coastal and freshwater resources

• Sustainable management of marine resources - Defra, Cefas, Natural England, the Environment Agency, Mars Inc.
• Aquaculture and fisheries management - Cefas, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Colchester Oyster Fishery, Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities
• Sustainable methods for reducing biofouling - Office of Naval Research Global
• Management of freshwater resources – Anglian Water, Severn Trent

Environmental pollution

• Pollution prevention, detection and remediation – Oil Spill Response Ltd., Oil Plus Ltd, and ITOPF
• Impact of the decommissioning of energy-related structures (oil and gas platforms, wind turbines, cables) – Shell and Repsol

Air quality

• Bioaerosol detection and characterisation – PHE, DSTL and the Environment Agency 

Research degrees in Life Sciences

We have a vibrant postgraduate community, and are always keen to recruit new postgraduate research students (both PhD and Master of Science by Dissertation). Throughout the year we may have funded opportunities, such as PhD projects funded by NERC ARIES Doctoral Training Partnership.

Please feel free to contact individual group members if you are interested in postgraduate research or applying for postdoctoral fellowships. Many of our academics maintain lists of project areas that they are happy to supervise, and will be able to help you narrow down a research topic.