Postgraduate Research Opportunities

Ocean and Earth Science

Based at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS), our graduate school (GSNOCS) aims to provide the best possible skills and expertise to work at the leading-edge of research.

Our research spans the coast to the deep ocean, tackling the most pressing scientific questions of our age, within key areas such as:

• Geochemistry
• Geology and Geophysics
• Marine Biology and Ecology
• Palaeoceanography and Palaeoclimate
• Marine Biogeochemistry
• Physical Oceanography

With an interdisciplinary emphasis, research focuses on scientific excellence with impact. NOCS hosts cutting-edge facilities and attracts world-class academics and students from around the world. GSNOCS is able to offer our students a variety of opportunities including:

• SPITFIRE - NERC funded Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) in environmental science
• NeXUSS – NERC and ESPRC funded Centre of Doctoral Training (CDT) in the use of smart and autonomous observation for the environmental sciences known as NEXUSS (NEXt generation Unmanned System Science)
• GSNOCS - Southampton University funded studentships and opportunities

SPITFIRE

SPITFIRE is the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funded Southampton Partnership for Innovative Training of Future Investigators Researching the Environment. Our aim is to create an innovative multi-disciplinary experience for the effective training of future leaders in environmental science, engineering, technology development, business, and policy.

SPITFIRE students will be registered at the University of Southampton and will undertake their PhD project research within the University or one of the hosting partner organisations. Unique features of SPITFIRE include opportunities for placements at a range of prestigious international research organisations or industrial and policy partners.

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NEXUSS

NEXUSS is a Centre for Doctoral Training funded by NERC and EPSRC and led by the University of Southampton, in partnership with five other leading academic and research centres (British Antarctic Survey, Heriot Watt University, National Oceanography Centre, Scottish Association for Marine Science and University of East Anglia). The Centre will tackle major challenges in the environmental sciences through the development and application of novel Smart and Autonomous Observing Systems technology. NEXUSS is an innovative doctoral training programme which will equip the next generation of environmental scientists with the necessary skills to develop and apply ambitious new unmanned systems. It will fund training for an annual intake of at least ten PhD students, starting in 2016.

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Applications deadlines:

• GSNOCS and SPITFIRE application closing date for 2018/19 entry is 5th January 2018
• NEXUSS application closing date for 2018/19 entry is 16th January 2018