PhD Studentship: Effects of the predictability of oxygen fluctuation on aquatic benthic community dynamics

Award Summary

100% home fees covered and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £18,622 (2023/24 UKRI rate).

Overview

The concentration of dissolved oxygen in aquatic systems (defined as oxyscape, Fusi et al., 2023 Biogeosciences 20:3509-3521) helps to regulate biodiversity, nutrient biogeochemistry, greenhouse gas emissions, and the quality of the water. Aquatic ecosystems spanning from marine to freshwater are characterised by the significant presence of primary producers that create a daily fluctuation of oxygen ranging from condition of oxygen supersaturation during the day to hypoxic condition during the night, through the photosynthetic activity and respiration. Understanding the level of such fluctuation and its predictability is important to determine the organismal physiology and community resilience to environmental stressors such as global warming (Pinsky et al., 2022 Trends in Ecology & Evolution 37:8). However, there is a paucity of data on the effect of daily oxygen fluctuation on aquatic organism and community response to stressors.

This project will assess the role of the magnitude and predictability (Helmut et al., 2006 Ecological Monographs, 76:461–479) of the aquatic oxyscape on the ecophysiological response of aquatic organisms. The project will include (but not be limited to) metabolic analysis to determine the physiological traits of the organisms that will inform the community dynamics and interactions under different scenario of oxyscape.

The student will benefit from collaborations with Dr Baldanzi (University of Valparaiso, Chile), Dr Marasco and Prof. Daffonchio (KAUST University, Saudi Arabia) that will support the eco-physiological methods the project will employ.

Number Of Awards

1

Start Date

22 April 2024

Award Duration

3.5 years

Application Closing Date

1 February 2024

Sponsor

Newcastle University

Supervisors

Dr Marco Fusi ([email protected])

Eligibility Criteria

You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project (e.g. Environmental or Natural Science).

Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.

The studentship covers fees at the Home rate (UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status and meet the residency criteria). International applicants are welcome to apply but will be required to cover the difference between Home and International fees.

International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme ) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme. 

How To Apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal  

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.  

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:  

• please apply for the 2023 academic year for April 2024.·      
• search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8315F 
• leave the 'Research Area' field blank
• select ‘PhD Marine Science (full time)' as the programme of study 

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:  

• a ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) - upload a document or write a statement directly in to the application form  
• the studentship code SNES273 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field  
• when prompted for how you are providing your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal.

Contact Details

Dr Marco Fusi ([email protected])