Project Overview: This PhD project at the University of Southampton investigates how the behaviour of subduction zone volcanoes evolves as they age, focusing on magma dynamics and eruptive styles. The research compares Bagana, a rare young stratovolcano in Papua New Guinea, with Etna, a mature stratovolcano in Italy, to understand changes in magmatic timescales and eruption behaviour over a volcano’s lifespan. Research Focus: Volcanoes are powered by complex magmatic plumbing systems that influence how magma is assembled, rises, and erupts. Most subduction zone volcanoes today are mature, exhibiting diverse eruption styles and unpredictable unrest periods, which complicates volcanic risk reduction. This project aims to determine whether this unpredictability increases with age by studying Bagana’s immature system and comparing it to Etna’s well-documented, mature system. The student will use advanced analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron microprobe analysis, and laser ablation time-of-flight mass spectrometry, to create high-resolution chemical maps of volcanic rocks. These data will be used for textural analysis and diffusion chronometry in zoned minerals, reconstructing magmatic processes and their timescales. Fieldwork at Etna is encouraged to collect additional samples, and the project’s findings will contribute to global efforts in volcano monitoring and risk reduction. Training and Development: The IGNITE programme offers comprehensive personal and professional development, including fieldwork, advanced laboratory techniques, data management, and communication skills. Students will interact with a wide network of academic, research, and industrial partners, and benefit from outreach opportunities at the Natural History Museum. Attendance at national and international conferences and workshops is supported. Funding: The IGNITE Doctoral Landscape Award provides 3.5 years of funding (full- or part-time), including a tax-free stipend (£20,780 for 2025/26), Home tuition fees, an international fee waiver, and a Research Training Support Grant (£2,200/year). Eligibility: Applicants must have a UK bachelor’s degree with upper second-class honours or higher in a relevant subject (international equivalents accepted). English language proficiency (IELTS 6.5 overall, minimum 6.0 in all components or equivalent) is required. The programme encourages applications from diverse backgrounds and offers a guaranteed interview scheme for qualifying UK applicants from racially minoritised backgrounds. Application Process: Apply by 11:59pm on 8 January 2026 via the University of Southampton portal. Contact the lead supervisor to discuss your suitability before applying. You may apply for up to two projects but are advised to tailor your application to one. Both UK and international students are eligible, though competition for international studentships is high. For more information, see the project page and the international qualifications and language requirements pages. For queries about the guaranteed interview scheme, email nerc-dla@soton.ac.uk .

Project Overview: This PhD project at the University of Southampton aims to reconstruct tropical ocean temperature changes over the last 250 years using the chemical composition of long-lived coral skeletons. The research will address a critical question in climate science: Is the world already 1.5°C warmer than the pre-industrial period? By generating novel records of sea surface temperature (SST) from stony corals, the project seeks to pinpoint when anthropogenic warming began and to quantify the extent of tropical and global ocean warming since the pre-industrial era. Research Context: Determining the true pre-industrial baseline is challenging due to uncertainties in historical data and the timing of anthropogenic emissions. This project will overcome these challenges by serially sampling coral skeletons using advanced techniques such as laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). The resulting data will be used in state-of-the-art statistical and AI-based image processing to reconstruct climate fields for the Indian Ocean, a region closely tracking global temperature trends. The findings will have significant implications for understanding when the Paris Climate targets (+1.5°C and +2°C) may be breached and for refining estimates of remaining carbon budgets. Training and Environment: The successful candidate will join Prof. Foster’s large research group within the School of Ocean and Earth Sciences, benefiting from a vibrant academic environment and comprehensive training through the IGNITE programme. Training will cover coral sampling, CT imaging, LA-ICPMS analysis, statistical and Bayesian methods, data assimilation, AI-based image processing, and coding. There are opportunities for international collaboration, conference attendance, and fieldwork in the Indian Ocean and at the Australian Institute for Marine Science (AIMS). Funding: The IGNITE Doctoral Landscape Award provides 3.5 years of funding (full- or part-time), including a tax-free stipend at the UKRI standard rate (£20,780 for 2025/26), full Home tuition fees, a waiver for the difference between Home and International fees, and a Research Training Support Grant of £2,200 per year for project costs, conferences, and training. Eligibility: Applicants should have a UK bachelor’s degree with upper second-class honours or higher in a relevant subject (or international equivalent). English language proficiency is required (IELTS 6.5 overall, minimum 6.0 in all components, or equivalent). A background in environmental science, earth science, chemistry, or related fields is expected. Coding and statistical analysis skills are advantageous. Application Process: Applications must be submitted online by 11:59pm on 8th January 2026. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the lead supervisor to discuss suitability before applying. Both UK and international students are eligible, but international places are limited. The IGNITE programme supports diversity and offers a guaranteed interview scheme for qualifying UK applicants from racially minoritised backgrounds. References: Key literature includes recent advances in coral-based climate reconstruction and the challenges of defining the pre-industrial baseline (see Hughes et al. 2024, Thompson 2022, Voosen 2024). For more information, visit the project and supervisor web pages or contact the IGNITE DLA team at nerc-dla@soton.ac.uk.

Project Overview: Coral reefs are vital to marine ecosystems, economies, and societies, yet they are acutely threatened by climate change, particularly ocean warming and acidification. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms underlying coral calcification and their environmental sensitivity remain incompletely understood. This PhD project at the University of Southampton aims to unravel the mechanistic basis of coral biomineralisation, focusing on the role of anions in coral skeleton formation and how these processes respond to environmental change. Research Focus: The project will employ advanced analytical geochemical, spectroscopic, and imaging techniques to investigate both cultured and natural coral samples. Key objectives include: (i) using novel anion tracers and state-of-the-art tools such as laser ablation time-of-flight mass spectrometry to noninvasively study the regulation of chemistry at the site of calcification; (ii) supporting geochemical findings with experimental model systems synthesising amorphous and crystalline materials under controlled conditions; and (iii) applying these insights to natural coral samples that have experienced anthropogenic warming, to empirically assess changes in calcification over time. Training and Development: The IGNITE programme offers comprehensive training in analytical geochemistry, imaging (scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy), synthesis and characterisation of materials, numerical biomineralisation modelling, programming (Matlab, Python, R), and scientific communication. Students will benefit from a multidisciplinary environment and opportunities to engage with academic, research, and industrial/policy partners. Funding: The IGNITE Doctoral Landscape Award provides 3.5 years of funding (full- or part-time), including a tax-free stipend at the UKRI standard rate (£20,780 for 2025/26), full Home tuition fees, and a Research Training Support Grant (£2,200 per year). The University waives the difference between Home and International tuition fees, making the award accessible to both UK and international students (with a cap on international places). Eligibility: Applicants should have a UK bachelor’s degree with upper second-class honours or higher in a relevant subject, or an international equivalent. English language proficiency (IELTS 6.5 overall, minimum 6.0 in all components, or equivalent) is required. Experience in geochemistry, imaging, programming, and scientific communication is advantageous. Application Process: Applications must be submitted online by 11:59pm on 8 January 2026. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the lead supervisor to discuss suitability before applying. Applicants may apply for up to two projects but are advised to tailor their application to one. The IGNITE programme supports diversity and offers a guaranteed interview scheme for qualifying UK applicants from racially minoritised backgrounds. Supervision: The project will be supervised by Dr D Evans, Prof G Foster, Prof J Wiedenmann, and Assoc Prof C D'Angelo, all based at the University of Southampton’s School of Ocean and Earth Sciences. Location: University of Southampton, United Kingdom. For further details, visit the project page or contact nerc-dla@soton.ac.uk .

This PhD project at the University of Southampton investigates the mechanisms of biomineralisation in marine calcifying organisms, specifically foraminifera and coccolithophores, to understand their resilience to global environmental change. Calcifying marine organisms are crucial to the global carbon cycle, forming extensive calcium carbonate deposits on the ocean floor that serve as important geological and climate proxies. However, the cellular processes underlying calcification are not fully understood, limiting our ability to predict how these organisms will respond to future oceanic changes such as acidification and shifts in carbon availability. The research will employ advanced techniques to compare the calcification strategies of foraminifera and coccolithophores, focusing on differences in carbon allocation between photosynthesis and calcification, the impact of cell size on carbon acquisition, and the influence of microenvironmental pH on geochemical proxies like boron isotopes. The project is based at the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth and is part of the IGNITE Doctoral Landscape Award programme, which offers comprehensive training in culturing marine protists, physiological measurements, microelectrode techniques, and cryo-electron microscopy. Students will also develop transferable skills in programming, quantitative analysis, and science communication. The supervisory team brings together expertise in algal biology, paleobiology, and ocean biogeochemistry. The IGNITE programme provides a supportive, multidisciplinary environment with opportunities to engage with academic, research, and policy partners. Funding includes a 3.5-year tax-free stipend at the UKRI standard rate (£20,780 for 2025/26), full coverage of Home tuition fees, a waiver for the difference between Home and International fees, and a Research Training Support Grant of £2,200 per year. Applicants should have a UK bachelor’s degree with upper second-class honours or higher in a relevant subject, or an international equivalent. English language proficiency is required (IELTS 6.5 overall, minimum 6.0 in all components, or equivalent). Applications are open to both UK and international students, though international places are limited. The deadline for applications is 8 January 2026. Prospective candidates are encouraged to contact the lead supervisor to discuss their suitability and are advised to apply for one project to tailor their application. The IGNITE programme also offers a guaranteed interview scheme for qualifying UK applicants from racially minoritised backgrounds. For further details, see the University of Southampton’s entry requirements and language policies, and refer to the provided references for background reading on marine biomineralisation and geochemical proxies.