Fully Funded PhD in Passive Acoustic Monitoring for Coral Reef Policy and Resilience
Fully funded PhD opportunity at the
University of Exeter
on
passive acoustic monitoring
,
ecoacoustics
, and
coral reef resilience
. The project is titled
Passive acoustic monitoring to inform evidence-based policy for coral reefs
and is linked to collaboration with the
Australian Institute of Marine Science
and policy/management stakeholders.
The successful PhD researcher will work with
Dr Sophie Nedelec
and collaborators to refine and test novel ecoacoustic predictors using new and existing datasets, then apply them at regional scale along the Great Barrier Reef. The project combines marine ecology, environmental monitoring, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and interdisciplinary research.
Research themes and keywords:
coral reefs, passive acoustic monitoring, ecoacoustics, reef resilience, marine conservation, environmental policy, quantitative analysis, fieldwork, R/MATLAB/Python, and Indigenous Standpoint Theory.
Eligibility highlights:
applicants should have, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate science or technology field. Strong quantitative analysis skills are essential. Desirable experience includes snorkelling/free diving, communication and engagement skills, and programming/data analysis experience. Non-native English speakers must meet the university’s English language requirements.
Funding:
UK tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £22,350 per year. International tuition fee students are unlikely to be eligible because of funder budget restrictions, although there may be support options for eligible First Nations students from Australia.
Deadline:
6 July 2026. Interviews are expected in the week commencing 13 July 2026.
How to apply:
submit the application through the university portal, upload a CV, cover letter, transcripts, two references, and English language evidence if needed. Quote reference
5889
.