Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES)

PhD studentships and funding

We currently have around 30 registered PhD students funded from a variety of sources, including University, NERC, Leverhulme and self-funding.  Together with Home and EU nationals, we recruit PhD students from all over the world. 

We are now advertising PhD studentships for 2012 registration. Please see the titles below and click on the title for a full description of the project.

The fate and cycling of organotin compounds in sediments at disposal sites in UK waters

Dr Gary Fones, Professor Graham Mills (Portsmouth) and Dr Ruth Parker (Cefas)

The role of sediment resuspension on the flux of heavy metals from contaminated sediments

Dr Gary Fones (Portsmouth) and Dr Kevin Black (Partrac Ltd)

Caledonian Magmatism of Western Shetland – the smoking gun of slab breakoff?

Dr Mike Fowler, Dr Dean Bullen and Dr Craig Storey (Portsmouth)

Toxic Elements in Minespoil Dusts of SW England

Dr Mike Fowler, Dr Dean Bullen (Portsmouth) and Dr Hugh Datson (DustScan Ltd)

Asteroid (Echinodermata - starfish, sea stars) evolution across the Palaeozoic-Mesozoic transition; origin of the Neoasteroidea

Prof Andy Gale (Portsmouth)

Effects of sediment resuspension on microbial community composition and function

Dr Michelle Hale and Dr Gary Fones (Portsmouth)

The role of the microbial community in the biogeochemistry of coarse sediments

Dr Michelle Hale and Dr Gary Fones (Portsmouth)

Lacustrine records of background radiation in mountainous terrain: remediation priorities in Kyrgyzstan, central Asia

Dr Derek Rust, Dr Richard Teeuw and Dr Malcolm Whitworth (Portsmouth). Dr Andrey Korjenkov (Kyrgyzstan Institute of Seismology) and Prof Alessandro Tibaldi (University of Milan-Bicocca)

Palaeoseismology, slope instability and hazard potential along the Talas-Fergana fault, Tien Shan mountains, central Asia

Dr Derek Rust, Dr Richard Teeuw and Dr Malcolm Whitworth (Portsmouth). Dr Andrey Korjenkov (Kyrgyzstan Institute of Seismology) and Prof Alessandro Tibaldi (University of Milan-Bicocca)

How does tourmaline behave in a subduction zone? A case study on magmatic and high-pressure metamorphic rocks

Dr Craig Storey, Dr Emilie Bruand (Portsmouth) and Dr Clare Warren (Open University)

Hadean to Archaean crustal evolution of the Dharwar Craton, India

Dr Craig Storey, Dr Mike Fowler (Portsmouth) and Dr Sukanta Dey (Indian School of Mines)

Terrane tectonics in the Shetland Islands, Scottish Caledonides

Dr Rob Strachan, Dr Craig Storey & Dr Mike Fowler (Portsmouth)

Application of cosmogenic dating to understanding the timing of large scale landslides in the Tien Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan.

Dr Malcolm Whitworth, Dr Derek Rust and Dr Andy Gibson (Portsmouth)

Volcano seismicity and fluid-rock coupling: Laboratory simulations of fluid-induced seismicity and implications for eruption forecasting.

Dr. Philip Benson (Portsmouth), Dr. Sergio Vinciguerra (INGV, Italy), and Prof. Philip Meredith (UCL, U.K.) 

We anticipate being able to fund at least one studentship to start in October 2012 and so we are inviting candidates to apply for consideration. The deadline for application is 29th February 2012 and we will then invite suitable and eligible (see below) candidates for interview in either March or April.

Informal enquiries can be made by email to the lead supervisor (click on name in above list) but formal applications will be by emailing a cover letter and CV to Dr Craig Storey (craig.storey@port.ac.uk) by 29th February 2012.

Eligibility: UK and EU Nationals 
UK and EU students are eligible for fees and a maintenance award. Non-EU Nationals Overseas applicants pay the full University tuition fees, as well as their own maintenance and travelling costs. Non-EU students are eligible to apply for the PhD programme but must apply for funding through their home country or through the numerous schemes available to support international students in the UK.
The British Council and The Association of Commonwealth Universities have further information on various funding schemes for international students wishing to study in the UK.

There are numerous scholarships and funds to help send you on fieldwork or to conferences once you have joined the School.