PhD Studentship: Understanding Plankton Biodiversity and Ecosystem Change by Applying Machine Learning (CASE Studentship) University of Plymouth in United Kingdom

[The studentship is supported for 3.5 years and includes Home rate tuition fees plus a stipend of £19,215 per annum (2025-26 rate; 2026-27 rate to be confirmed).]

This 3.5-year PhD studentship at the University of Plymouth offers an exciting opportunity to advance our understanding of plankton biodiversity and ecosystem change using cutting-edge machine learning techniques. Hosted within Marine Research Plymouth—a collaboration between the University of Plymouth, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and the Marine Biological Association—this project is at the forefront of global marine research, leveraging the UK's largest concentration of marine scientists.

The project addresses a critical gap in marine biodiversity monitoring by applying advanced machine learning classifiers to plankton imaging data. Plankton are vital to marine food webs and global carbon cycles, serving as sensitive indicators of environmental change. However, current monitoring methods are insufficient for detecting biodiversity shifts and informing conservation policy. By integrating new imaging technologies and machine learning, the successful candidate will expand the use of biodiversity policy indicators, directly supporting the UK Marine Strategy and OSPAR frameworks.

The student will collect plankton images using an innovative benchtop flow-through imaging sensor and integrate these with existing datasets. Fieldwork opportunities include sea-based research with Cefas and an international visit to the University of British Columbia for instrument testing. The project will apply novel machine learning image classifiers to identify plankton taxa and quantify ecological traits such as size and biovolume—traits often missing from traditional datasets but essential for robust biodiversity analyses and policy evaluation. The resulting data will be used to characterize spatio-temporal ecological changes in the Northeast Atlantic.

Through this studentship, the candidate will develop expertise in machine learning, plankton taxonomy, ecological trait analysis, and biodiversity indicator development. They will also contribute to the UK and OSPAR Pelagic Habitats Expert Groups and benefit from professional development through the Plankton and Policy Research Unit and Marine Research Plymouth’s early career network.

Eligibility: Applicants should hold a first or upper second class honours degree or a Masters in ecology, marine biology, data science, environmental sciences, or a related field. Interdisciplinary backgrounds and strong quantitative skills are particularly valued.

Funding: The studentship covers Home rate tuition fees and provides a stipend of £19,215 per annum (2025-26 rate; 2026-27 rate to be confirmed) for 3.5 years.

Application: The deadline for applications is 12 noon on 2 February 2026. For informal enquiries, contact Professor Abigail McQuatters-Gollop. Apply via the University of Plymouth’s online portal using the provided link.