PhD to Assess Spatial and Temporal Approaches to Managing Scallop Fisheries for Sustainability Bangor University in United Kingdom

[Full tuition fees covered; stipend of £20,000 (2025/26) and £21,000 (2026/27 and 2027/28); partial funding confirmed, full funding expected; funded time at Heriot-Watt University.]

Bangor University, in collaboration with Welsh Government and Heriot-Watt University, is offering a fully funded PhD position focused on the spatial, temporal, and rotational management of Welsh scallop fisheries. The project aims to support the achievement of Good Environmental Status while maintaining a viable commercial fishery, contributing vital evidence for the implementation of the King Scallop Fisheries Management Plan in Wales.

The successful candidate will join the Sustainable Fisheries Research Group at Bangor University, renowned for its global impact in sustainable fisheries research. The group works closely with government and industry partners, conducting biological data collection, ecosystem assessments, and both fishery-independent and fishery-dependent surveys. The student will also benefit from collaboration with Heriot-Watt University's Marine Sustainability, Policy and Conservation Evidence Group, gaining exposure to UK-wide fisheries sustainability research and policy development.

Research activities will include modelling scallop distribution, productivity, and habitat suitability using empirical and public datasets; assessing growth rates under varying environmental conditions to inform rotational management; studying recruitment and movement of pre-recruits to guide survey timing and fishery planning; and comparing natural seafloor disturbance with fishing impacts to inform spatial management. The student will participate in annual Welsh scallop surveys and may access broader UK/EU datasets and fishery-dependent data.

The position is fully funded, with all tuition fees covered and a stipend of £20,000 in the first year, rising to £21,000 in subsequent years. The student will be based at Bangor University, with funded time at Heriot-Watt University. The project is supported by the Welsh Government and Bangor University, and participation in the annual Welsh scallop survey is included.

Applicants should have a strong background in biology, environmental science, marine science, or a related discipline, and demonstrate critical thinking, attention to detail, independence, and a collaborative approach. Experience with data analysis, modelling, or fisheries research is desirable. Commitment to open science and reproducibility is expected.

To apply, submit your application via the Bangor University portal, including a CV and cover letter addressing the personal specification. Interviews will be held online in late October, and the successful candidate will start in November 2025. For further information, contact Dr. Natalie Hold at [email protected].