Investigating the impacts of environmentally relevant microplastic exposures on iconic wetland biota in a multi-stressor context (PHDHLS2122009) at University of the West of Scotland on FindAPhD.com

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Dr F Orton, Prof K Sloman No more applications being accepted Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

About the Project

The University of the West of Scotland is one of eight Scottish Partner Institutions that forms SUPER DTP, The Scottish Universities Partnership for Environmental Research Doctoral Programme funded by NERC (https://www.masts.ac.uk/graduate-school/super/). Under this programme, we are pleased to offer a SUPER DTP project in collaboration with Heriott-Watt University.

It is now well established that MPs are ubiquitous global pollutants. However, evidence of harm is lacking since there is a mismatch between laboratory exposures to virgin/unweathered MPs of a single type and heterogenous MP assemblages found in natural systems. This has led to the potential toxicity of MPs to biota being extremely poorly defined, thereby hindering effective risk assessment. Biodiversity loss is occurring at an alarming rate and associations between declines and multiple interacting stressors have been demonstrated from a wide range of taxa, including insects, amphibians, birds and fish. Multiple stressors negatively impact the stability of entire ecosystems through alterations in species interactions. These effects are particularly pertinent for FW systems, which are amongst the most threatened on Earth, and which are predicted to lose 80 % of their biodiversity as a result of multiple stressors by 2050. However, the potential interactions of MPs with other ubiquitous environmental stressors remain virtually unknown. The aim of this project, therefore, is to investigate the effects of MPs in a multi-stressor context on freshwater biota (common frog, Rana temporaria).

If you are selected for an award, you will be expected to start on 3^rd October 2022 and attend the following events in early October in Glasgow (dates to be confirmed):

· SUPER DTP induction event

· Annual Science meeting

You will also be enrolled in the SUPER Graduate School and onto the SUPER Post Graduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development as well as UWS.

Full Supervisory Team :

Dr Frances Orton (Lead Supervisor)/Dr Kath Sloman, UWS/Dr Mark Hartl (Herriot Watt)

For informal enquiries, please email: [Email Address Removed]

Interviews will be held on Thursday 10^th February.

Funding Notes

The 3½ year studentships cover:
• Tuition fees each year
• A maintenance grant each of around £15,000 per annum (for full-time study)
• Funding for research training
• Part-time study is an option, with a minimum of 50% of full-time effort being required.
The studentship is open to UK citizens and EU applicants with pre-settled or settled status, it is also open to international applicants if they can cover the difference between Home and International fees for the duration of the programme of study.