EnvEast funded over 80 NERC PhD studentships over five years of student intakes.
Below you can find brief details of some of the research we funded (and continue to fund). If you would like further information about any of these projects, please email us at env.east@uea.ac.uk.
If you are looking for current PhD opportunities, please visit EnvEast's successor DTP website: www.aries-dtp.ac.uk.
Projects previously funded by EnvEast
| Project | Primary supervisor | Lead Institute | Project partners (*CASE partners) |
| Microbes, mud, mucus & minerals: deep-time record of microbial environments & processes | Prof Julian Andrews | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | Tullow Oil |
| The role of sea ice in the Southern Ocean carbon sink using novel biogeochemical sensors | Dr Dorothee Bakker | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | British Antarctic Survey, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Alfred Wagner Institute |
| An integrated volcanic risk analysis of Dominica, Lesser Antilles | Prof Jenni Barclay | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | University of the West Indies |
| Critical controls on eruptive behaviour of an intraplate volcano | Prof Jenni Barclay | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | University of Durham, Natural History Museum |
| Modelling lahar hazard & landscape disturbance following a volcanic eruption on the island of Montserrat | Dr Georgie Bennett | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | Montserrat Volcano Observatory, University of Sheffield |
| Landsliding in Nepal: exploring the role of earthquakes, rivers & roads | Dr Sarah Boulton | University of Plymouth, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences | AECOM* |
| Social organisation of the Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum | Prof Andrew Bourke | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | |
| Dominance & policing in bumble bees | Prof Andrew Bourke | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | |
| Spilling the beans on the densest water formed in the North Atlantic | Dr Alex Brearley | British Antarctic Survey | University of East Anglia, Cefas* |
| The biodiversity of organic phosphate (phytate) cycling in soils | Dr Charles Brearley | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | AB Vista* |
| Assessment of the outcomes of biodiversity offset projects under ‘no net loss’ policy | Dr Joseph Bull | University of Kent, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology | University of Copenhagen, Balfour Beatty* |
| Improving & extending biodiversity indices | Dr Simon Butler | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | RSPB* |
| Community ecology of the native Oyster (Ostrea edulis): developing best practice for economic & environmental sustainability of an important regional fishery | Dr Tom Cameron | University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences | Kent & Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority*, Colchester Oyster Fishery |
| What makes a habitat a home for juvenile fish? Assessing the importance of estuary habitat characteristics for growth & survival of European Sea bass | Dr Tom Cameron | University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences | Cefas*, University of East Anglia |
| Mate recognition in insect control | Prof Tracey Chapman | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | Pirbright Institute |
| Quantifying glacial-interglacial ocean temperature change using clumped isotopes | Dr Mark Chapman | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | |
| Does microplastic pollution pose a risk to marine life & food security? | Dr Matthew Cole | Plymouth Marine Laboratory | University of East Anglia, University of Plymouth |
| Marine microbial biogeochemistry of carbon monoxide – connecting biodiversity with ecosystem function | Dr Michael Cunliffe | Marine Biological Association of the UK | University of East Anglia |
| Fungal parasites of marine diatoms – the biology & ecology of marine chytrids | Dr Michael Cunliffe | Marine Biological Association of the UK | University of East Anglia |
| Effects of farmland management on functional traits & pollination ecology of bee & hoverfly assemblages | Dr Richard Davies | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | Conservation Grade |
| Road verges for bumblebee conservation: a green infrastructure opportunity or an ecological trap | Dr Lynn Dicks | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | Highways England*, Costain Ltd*, Bumblebee Conservation Trust* |
| The impact of viruses on methanol cycling in marine waters | Dr Jo Dixon | Plymouth Marine Laboratory | University of East Anglia, Marine Biological Association of the UK |
| Weatherproofing for a smarter, resilient & more sustainable agri-sector | Prof Steve Dorling | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | National Institute of Agricultural Botany |
| Mechanisms driving changes in migratory behaviour of long lived birds in response to global | Dr Aldina Franco | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | University of Lisbon, British Trust for Ornithology |
| Demographic consequences of different migratory strategies in a partially migratory species | Dr Aldina Franco | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | University of Lisbon, British Trust for Ornithology* |
| Does male-specific infertility explain butterfly range shifts under climate warming | Prof Matt Gage | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | |
| Landscape & local-scale management for threatened breeding wader populations | Prof Jenny Gill | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | RSPB, British Trust for Ornithology* |
| Understanding the factors limiting climate-driven range shifts in birds | Dr James Gilroy | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | National Audobon Society |
| Population drivers, demographics & disease in wild snake populations | Prof Richard Griffiths | University of Kent, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology | British Trust for Ornithology*, ARC Trust, ZSL Institute of Zoology |
| Measuring the effects of supplementary-feeding on trajectory of threatened populations | Prof Jim Groombridge | University of Kent, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology | ZSL Institute of Zoology, Wildlife Vets International*, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust* |
| How is environmental change shaping the future of Southeast Asia’s top predators? | Prof Jim Groombridge | University of Kent, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology | TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network*, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu |
| Modelling future flood risk for adaptation planning of coastal & inland flooding: a case study of the | Dr Helen He | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | Broads Authority* |
| Geophysical modelling of fluid movement at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii | Dr Richard Herd | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | Cascades Volcano Observatory |
| Ocean2ice: ocean-ice interaction in the Amundsen Sea Embayment, Antarctica | Prof Karen Heywood | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | |
| Ocean processes triggering monsoon rainfall | Prof Karen Heywood | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | National Oceanography Centre |
| Dual stable isotope determination of nitrogen transformation in a lowland arable catchment under different agricultural regimes | Prof Kevin Hiscock | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | |
| Is ocean melting driving Larsen C Ice Shelf towards collapse? | Dr Paul Holland | British Antarctic Survey | University of East Anglia |
| Partner choice: the chemical ecology of microbiomes | Prof Matthew Hutchings | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | |
| Understanding the symbiosis between antibiotic-producing Streptomyces bacteria & plant roots | Prof Matt Hutchings | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | John Innes Centre |
| Improvements with a purpose: the role of accurate earthquake locations in the mapping of a volcanic plumbing system | Dr Jessica Johnson | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | University of the West Indies |
| The Sun The Stratosphere & Seasonal Climate Prediction | Dr Manoj Joshi | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | Met Office |
| New threats to the ozone layer: Exploring ozone-depleting substances in the upper troposphere & stratosphere | Dr Johannes Laube | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | |
| Scaling up dynamic responses of stomata to assess impacts on tree canopy carbon gain & water use efficiency | Prof Tracy Lawson | University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences | Forest Research* |
| Impact of climate change on gelatinous plankton (e.g. Jellyfish & salps) occurrence | Prof Corinne Le Quere | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | Cefas* |
| The ingestion of microplastics by plankton, & implications for the wider marine ecosystem & human wellbeing. | Dr Pennie Lindeque | Plymouth Marine Laboratory | Defra* |
| Extremophiles in benign environments: insights into the distribution & function of microorganisms | Dr Etienne Low-Decarie | University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences | |
| Investigating climate change via the atmosphere: Using multi-species greenhouse gas measurements to shed light on Earth System land, ocean & atmospheric processes | Dr Andrew Manning | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | |
| Winners & losers in a more acidified ocean: impact on the physiology & life history of two pteropod species | Dr Clara Manno | British Antarctic Survey | University of East Anglia |
| Microbial degradation of acetaldehyde in marine environments | Dr Terry McGenity | University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences | Plymouth Marine Laboratory, University of East Anglia |
| Efficacy & effects of dispersants on the biodegradation of marine oil spills | Dr Boyd McKew | University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences | Cefas* |
| Biofilters for mitigation of landfill methane emissions | Prof Colin Murrell | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | Norfolk County Council* |
| Alcohol in the Polar Oceans | Prof Phil Nightingale | Plymouth Marine Laboratory | University of East Anglia, British Antarctic Survey |
| Melting of ice shelves around the Antarctic Peninsula | Dr Andrew Orr | British Antarctic Survey | University of East Anglia |
| Weather extremes under a changing climate: making better projections of future climate | Prof Tim Osborn | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | Atkins* |
| Strategic development of the innovative in-line plankton image analysis (PIA) system to fit policy & ecosystem modelling data needs | Dr Sophie Pitois | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | Cefas*, University of Plymouth |
| Microbial lignocellulose degradation in the environment | Dr Jennifer Pratscher | Heriot Watt University | University of East Anglia, Recyclatech Ltd* |
| The Big Chill - Observing & modelling cold air outbreaks | Prof Ian Renfrew | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | British Antarctic Survey, Met Office |
| Evolving with pathogens: how pathogens drive genetic diversity over space & time in an island bird | Prof David Richardson | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | |
| Offspring or survival: Antagonistic effects & the maintenance of genetic variation in an isolated island population of Seychelles warblers | Prof David Richardson | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | Groningen University, University of Sheffield |
| The Southern Ocean: barrier or blender? | Dr Hayder Salman | UEA, School of Mathematics | |
| Societal recovery & adaptation following volcanic eruptions | Mr Peter Simmons | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | University of Exeter |
| Corals at the extreme: partitioning the response of coral holobionts to marginal habitats | Prof David Smith | University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences | Australian Institute of Marine Science, University of Shizuoka |
| Modelling future scenarios for conservation land-use in England | Dr Bob Smith | University of Kent, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology | Natural England* |
| Genomic signatures of adaptation in an island bird | Dr Lewis Spurgin | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | IPNA-CSIC* |
| Developing novel analytical tools to explore the marine volatile metabolome | Dr Michael Steinke | University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences | University of East Anglia, Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
| Understanding covariation between biodiversity & ecosystem functions across a modified tropical landscape | Dr Matt Struebig | University of Kent, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology | South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership* |
| Quantifying biodiversity responses to land-use change via non-invasive sampling of tropical mammals | Dr Matthew Struebig | University of Kent, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology | Queen Mary University of London |
| Monitoring responses of tropical vertebrates to land-use change using acoustic technologies | Dr Matthew Struebig | University of Kent, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology | Queen Mary University of London |
| Isotopic signatures of atmospheric gases in ice cores | Prof Bill Sturges | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | British Antarctic Survey |
| Southern Ocean Uptake of Atmospheric CO2 : Where should we measure it | Dr Parv Suntharalingam | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | British Antarctic Survey |
| Determining the active flux of carbon within the Southern Ocean & its sensitivity to climate change | Prof Geraint Tarling | British Antarctic Survey | University of East Anglia |
| Detecting zooplankton foray behaviour in polar marine environments | Prof Geraint Tarling | British Antarctic Survey | University of East Anglia |
| Metagenetic approaches to studying marine food webs: support for ecosystem based fisheries management. | Dr Martin Taylor | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | Cefas |
| The role of transposable elements & whole genome duplication in the adaptive radiation of neotropical catfishes | Dr Martin Taylor | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | |
| Microbial Ecological approaches used to investigate DMSP catabolism in marine sediment & pelagic environments | Dr Jonathan Todd | UEA, School of Biological Sciences | Cefas |
| Biosedimentological cascades: the effects of wading birds on the erosion properties and | Dr Trevor Tolhurst | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | University of Essex |
| Genome wide analysis of drift & selection using historic & contemporary samples of the endangered Mauritius Pink Pigeon | Prof Cock van Oosterhout | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | Earlham Institute, Natural History Museum |
| Population genomics & the adaptive evolution of phytoplankton in changing oceans | Prof Cock van Oosterhout | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | University of Gothenburg |
| Investigation of the hydrological impacts of climate change in the Tana Basin, East Africa | Prof Rachel Warren | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | |
| Disentangling plant-soil/microbe-plant feedback loop interactions under soil drought stress conditions. | Dr Corinne Whitby | University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences | ADC Ltd*, Rothamsted Research |
| Atmosphere-Ocean Exchange in the Anthropocene – How Air Pollution Modifies the ‘Smell of the Sea’ | Dr Mingxi Yang | Plymouth Marine Laboratory | University of East Anglia |
| Ocean-eddy atmosphere interaction | Dr Xiaoming Zhai | UEA, School of Environmental Sciences | British Antarctic Survey |