P Kemp

This fully funded PhD project at the University of Southampton, in partnership with the Environment Agency and the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Sound Futures, aims to develop innovative, non-destructive technology to support the conservation of the critically endangered European eel. The European eel has suffered population declines of over 90%, with one major stressor being a non-native parasitic nematode that damages the swim bladder, an organ essential for buoyancy and migration. Traditional monitoring of this parasite requires destructive autopsies, which conflict with conservation goals and limit the number of eels that can be sampled. This project will address this challenge by designing and constructing a test chamber to measure the acoustic resonance of live eel swim bladders, providing a non-lethal method to assess parasite load. The research will progress through proof of concept, validation of the resonance technique to predict swim bladder properties and parasite burden, and the development of a field-ready prototype. The project is highly interdisciplinary, integrating acoustics, bioengineering, conservation biology, and experimental physics. It is designed for students with backgrounds in biology, engineering, or physics who are eager to work across disciplines to develop transformative applied technology for biodiversity conservation. The successful candidate will join a vibrant research community and benefit from a generous research grant, UKRI stipend, and full tuition coverage. Applicants should hold or expect at least a 2.1 BSc or Master’s in a relevant field. Funding for international students is limited and highly competitive. The project directly supports urgent international efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, as highlighted by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. The application deadline is January 11, 2026. For more information and application instructions, visit the Sustainable Sound Futures programme website.