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Palaeontology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships
We have 23 Palaeontology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships
Are you fascinated by the mysteries of the Earth's past? Do you have a passion for fossils and the study of ancient life? If so, a PhD in Palaeontology might be the perfect choice for you.
What's it like to study a PhD in Palaeontology?
Studying a PhD in Palaeontology is like embarking on a thrilling journey through time. You will have the opportunity to delve into the Earth's history, uncovering the secrets of ancient ecosystems and the evolution of life. You will spend your days examining fossils, analyzing geological formations, and piecing together the puzzle of our planet's past.
As a PhD student in Palaeontology, you will work closely with experienced researchers and professors who will guide you in your exploration. You will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities, allowing you to conduct your own experiments and analyses. Fieldwork is also an integral part of studying Palaeontology, giving you the chance to visit fossil-rich sites and collect valuable specimens.
Entry requirements for a PhD in Palaeontology
To pursue a PhD in Palaeontology, you will typically need a strong academic background in Geology or a related field. Most universities require a minimum of a 2.1 Honours degree or a Master's degree in a relevant subject. Additionally, having research experience or publications in the field of Palaeontology will greatly enhance your chances of being accepted into a PhD program.
PhD in Palaeontology funding options
Funding for PhDs in Palaeontology may be available from various sources, including governments, universities and charities, business or industry. See our full guides to PhD funding for more information.
PhD in Palaeontology careers
A PhD in Palaeontology opens up a wide range of exciting career opportunities. Many graduates go on to become research scientists, working in museums, universities, or government agencies. They contribute to the understanding of Earth's history, publish scientific papers, and make significant discoveries in the field of Palaeontology.
Others may choose to work in the private sector, such as environmental consulting firms or oil and gas companies, where their expertise in understanding geological formations and interpreting ancient environments is highly valued. Some Palaeontologists also become educators, sharing their knowledge and passion for the subject by teaching at universities or working in science outreach programs.
Whether you aspire to be a renowned researcher, a teacher, or a consultant, a PhD in Palaeontology will equip you with the skills and knowledge to make a meaningful contribution to the field and satisfy your curiosity about the Earth's ancient past.
Out of Africa: Animals, traits, and oxygen in the Ediacaran Nama Group, Namibia
Background. The Ediacaran-Cambrian Radiation, starting ca. 570 Ma, marks the appearance of abundant and diverse animals (metazoans), including the rise of bilaterians, in the fossil record. Read more
ACCE+ DLA Programme: The evolution of body size, shape and locomotor ecology in tetrapods
Body size and shape play fundamental roles in organismal function and it is therefore expected that animals may possess body proportions that are adapted to their ecological niche. Read more
Unravelling the deep homology of gill slits and the origin of bilaterian body plans
Bilaterians comprise the vast majority of animal diversity and disparity and can be divided into three main clades; the ecdysozoans (moulting animals like arthropods), spiralians (e.g. Read more
The stars are out: a palaeontological perspective on the early evolution of the Asterozoa
Echinoderms are one of the most morphologically distinctive animal phyla, including forms as varied as sea lilies, sea urchins and sea stars. Read more
The meiofauna frontier: pushing the limits of computed tomography in invertebrate morphology and systematics
One of Earth’s great remaining frontiers of animal biodiversity can be found in the communities of invertebrates living in the interstices of aquatic sediments and soils (Swedmark, 1964), in the so-called “meiofauna” (animals <1 mm). Read more
The impact of ocean warming on nutrient and carbon acquisition of marine plankton
In the evolution of complex life, the uptake of and development of the primary endosymbiotic plastid by the ancestral heterotroph represents a singularity i.e. Read more
Protein specific mineralisation and exceptional fossils
Exceptionally preserved fossil assemblages that preserve not only the biomineralised tissues of organisms but also their soft parts, including internal organs, are critical for interpreting the history of life on our planet. Read more
Integrating living species and the fossil record to unravel cnidarian evolution
Cnidarians are a familiar animal group that encompasses jellyfish (Medusozoa) and corals and anemones (Anthozoa). They are an ancient group and have colonised the pelagic, benthic and freshwater realms since their first appearance more than half a billion years ago. Read more
Origin and evolutionary dynamics of rainforest assembly in the Fiji Islands
Background. Rainforests are among Earth’s most species-rich ecosystems, yet the processes driving their assembly and evolution remain hotly debated [1-3]. Read more
Do clay-rich environments bias the early fossil record?
Eukaryotic life today plays a central ecological role on our planet, accounting for most visible biodiversity, most biomass, and most primary productivity. Read more
Disentangling extinction risk in deep time
Determining the species most vulnerable to extinction is key to understanding the drivers of macroevolutionary patterns, and to building accurate projections for biodiversity in the face of accelerated loss today. Read more
CENTA funded - Palaeo-environmental characterization of Triassic–Jurassic lower strength sedimentary rocks, potential hosts for a geological disposal facility
Project highlights. Investigate the organic fraction of potential host rocks for one of the largest environmental projects ever undertaken in the UK. Read more
CENTA funded - The role of the hind limbs in pterosaur flight
Project highlights. Gain expertise in 3D digital modelling, morphometrics, photogrammetry and phylogenetics . Opportunities for data collection in key palaeontological collections in the UK, Europe, USA, China and/or Japan . Read more
Open project in the Geosciences: UCL Earth Sciences PhD Scholarship
UCL Earth Sciences Ph.D. scholarship. This scholarship supports a full 4-year doctoral studentship at UCL’s Department of Earth Sciences to promote the most talented students, and create a greater diversity in academia. Read more
Genome Evolution and Major Transitions in Land Plant Evolution
This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the University of Bath URSA competition, for entry in September 2025. Read more
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