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Marine Postgraduate Research

Look at unanswered questions about protecting endangered species and habitats with our marine science research degrees. Investigate managing the ocean environment for future generations.

Research strengths

Our research spans organismal studies, large-scale processes, and management procedures. It falls into two broad areas:

  • marine organisms and ecosystem research
  • coastal processes and management

Our work with marine organisms and ecosystem research includes:

  • gamete maturation and fertilisation biology of marine invertebrates
  • chemical/physiological ecology of marine invertebrates
  • reef ecology, especially trophodynamics, the structure and dynamics of marine food webs generally

Our coastal processes and management research looks at:

  • effects of fishing and marine protected areas on benthic communities
  • air-sea exchange of biogases, element cycling in oceans, gaseous tracer technology

Our research has uncovered man-made pollutants in the deepest corners of our planet.

Choose a course

Explore areas in marine science with a PhD or MPhil degree.

Choose from our MPhil and PhD courses below and contribute to impactful research in your chosen field.

Marine Sciences MPhil, PhD

Biotechnology (Marine Sciences) MPhil, PhD

How to apply for your PhD

We accept PhD and MPhil applications at any time during the year.

Either: Browse our pre-designed projects (go to step 6)

Or: Propose your own project - suggested topics are available on each subject page.

Step 1: Find and contact prospective supervisors.

Step 2: Write a research proposal. For for chemistry applications, please add key words related to your research area.

Step 3: Check entry requirements and fees on our course pages. Potential funding options are also available.

Step 4: Apply via our online portal. You'll need to include the programme code, supervisor name and project or funding details if applicable

Step 5: Receive your offer – this will normally be a conditional offer.

Step 6: Accept your offer via the online portal.

Step 7: Send in any documents to meet the conditions and register!

You can only submit one application but this can be linked to multiple projects and studentships. You must specify this on the application form or in your cover letter.

If you’ve already submitted your application, you can link it to another project or studentship by sending an email to pgadmissions@ncl.ac.uk.

Contact us

If you need help with your application, you can email our team.

Email: snes.pgr.support@ncl.ac.uk

Find a supervisor

Before applying for a research degree, you’ll need to find a supervisor who aligns with your research interests.

To find a supervisor, we suggest that you:

Marine science PhD research projects

Below is a list of potential research areas. Please contact your proposed supervisor directly for any further information.

Dr Sara Marsham

Supervisor:Dr Sara Marsham

Projects:

I would be willing to discuss potential topics of research with interested applicants.

Key words: Intertidal ecology, bioscience education, pedagogic development 

Professor Pip Moore

Supervisor: Professor Pip Moore

Projects:

  • The structure, function and ecosystem services provided by marine vegetated habitats
  • The drivers and impacts of marine heatwaves on shallow coastal ecosystems
  • Nature-based and eco-engineering solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation

Key words: Marine ecology, marine heatwaves, kelp forests, ecosystem functioning 

Dr Ben Wigham

Supervisor: Dr Ben Wigham

Projects:

  • Metallic tracers in larval and juvenile fishes
  • Deep-water biodiversity of the Cape Verde Islands
  • Reproductive biology of Antarctic marine invertebrates
  • Non-lethal life-history impacts of microplastics on Antarctic marine invertebrates

Key words: Deep-sea; polar; food-web; reproduction

Dr Geoffrey Abbott

Supervisor: Dr Geoff Abbott

Projects:

  • The analysis, identification and fate of microplastics from vehicular tyre wear.
    The organic biogeochemistry of Arctic ocean sediments.
    Molecular characterization of organic carbon in northern peatlands.

Key words: microplastics, soil, peatlands, Arctic, mass spectrometry