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University of Otago

University of Otago PhD Scholarship

Fully Funded PhD in Quantifying Cellular Carbon Allocation for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal University of Otago in New Zealand

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Chemistry

Funding

Full funding available

Deadline

Aug 7, 2026

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Country

New Zealand

University

University of Otago

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Keywords

Chemistry
Environmental Science
Biology
Microscopy
Computer Vision
Marine Biology
Earth Science
Biogeochemistry
Statistics
Lipidomic

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About this position

PhD opportunity at the University of Otago (Dunedin, New Zealand) in the Departments of Chemistry and Marine Science, within the broader “Catching Marine Carbon: testing ocean solutions for climate mitigation using natural analogues” project.

The project focuses on marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), chemistry, biogeochemistry, and marine sciences. The successful candidate will develop new methods to rapidly measure lipids and protein-associated biomass in individual marine phytoplankton cells, helping track phytoplankton carbon allocation and the fate of carbon from the surface ocean to the deep ocean.

Research activities include developing dissolvable fluorescent sensing layers, using fluorescence microscopy, image analysis, and computer vision to quantify cell-level signals, and contributing to laboratory culture experiments under nutrient/iron fertilisation. The work also connects directly to monitoring, reporting, and verification frameworks for mCDR technologies in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This is a fully funded 3-year PhD scholarship with a tax-free stipend of NZ$35,000 per year and a full tuition fee waiver. The position is open to students worldwide.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should have an MSc and/or BSc (Hons) in chemistry or a related field, plus strong laboratory and quantitative skills. Helpful but not required experience includes fluorescence microscopy, Python/R, image analysis, microbial culturing, and knowledge of the marine carbon system.

Applications are accepted until the position is filled, with review beginning on 7 August 2026. Start date is expected between October 2026 and January 2027. Apply by email to christina.mcgraw@otago.ac.nz with a cover letter, CV, and transcripts.

Funding details

Full funding including tuition fees and living expenses is available for this position. The scholarship covers all educational costs and provides a monthly stipend.

How to apply

Please submit your application including a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, and contact information for two references. Applications should be sent via the online portal before the deadline.

More information can be found here

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