Course summary

The MPhil and PhD programmes provide research training, supervision and collaboration to international standards. You can choose a wide range of topics within our marine science research groups. Your research project will be in one of the areas covered by the marine science research groups: Marine Resources and Renewable Energy (MRRE): •antifouling and ballast water treatment •bacterial bioactive products •bioenergy. Marine Biology, Ecosystems and Governance: •structural and functional integrity of ecosystems •biological and socio-economic drivers of ecosystem change •governance and management of resource use. Oceans and Climate focuses on the production, consumption and air-sea exchange of greenhouse gases. Depending on your previous academic training and the requirements of the project, you receive formal instruction through taught modules in important areas such as laboratory safety and sea survival. The research community in the School of Marine Science and Technology includes 30 research students, 10-20 MSc students, six to 10 post-doctoral scientists, six technicians and 13 full-time academic staff. This provides you with abundant opportunities to progress your scientific career in any sector. Our research students have been successful at finding work across industry, academia, government agencies and non-governmental organisations. Delivery: This research degree operates through the Postgraduate Researcher Development Programme (PGRDP). This is part of the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) Graduate School. Your original research project is managed in the marine science research groups. There is flexibility in how your research outputs are achieved. Supervisory inputs and collaborations with other schools and faculties are common. Input from outside the University, eg Research Council (RCUK) CASE studentships, is also encouraged. The programme of work is tailored to your project requirements. You will achieve a certain number of credits through the PGRDP and School in your first two years. You will also: •write a thesis for viva voce examination •attend regional and international conferences in your chosen subject area •prepare papers for publication in academic journals. Work experience: Many research projects include industrial work experience. Other projects involve working with other universities, government institutes and scientific associations. The marine science research groups form part of extensive national and international networks. Recent collaboration includes: •the Environment Agency •Natural England •Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority •University of the West Indies (Barbados) •National Oceanographic Centre Southampton (NOCS) •University of Costa Rica, •North Sea Regional Advisory Council •Haribon Foundation. Facilities: You have access to a wealth of local (especially the Northumberland coast) and overseas (eg Caribbean and Western Indian Ocean) field sites through ongoing funded projects and collaborations. The excellent facilities available to students in the School include a suite of laboratories: •aquaria •algal culture •stable-isotope preparation •marine geochemistry ◦gas chromatography ◦air-sea gas exchange tank ◦uHPLC •bio-fouling ◦force gauge ◦WaterJet ◦contact angle goniometer ◦molecular biology ◦tracking systems. We also operate the Dove Marine Laboratory (Cullercoats) and the versatile twin-hulled research vessel, RV The Princess Royal, and a dedicated shore station (Blyth).