Doctoral Training Partnerships

ARIES: Advanced Research and Innovation in the Environmental Sciences

ARIES (Advanced Research and Innovation in the Environmental Sciences) is a Doctoral Training Partnership with the mission “to train postgraduate research students with excellent potential from across society, equipping them with the necessary skills to become 21st Century Scientists: leaders in the science and sustainable business of the natural environment.”

ARIES is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and is an extensive world-class partnership integrating 59 partners from universities, research institutes and end users. ARIES is built upon scientific excellence within five overlapping research themes:

  • Ecology and biodiversity
  • Marine, atmospheric and climate science
  • Geosciences, resources and environmental Risk
  • Environmental genomics and microbiology
  • Agri-environments and water

The studentship competition for October 2025 entry

ARIES is currently awaiting confirmation of funding under the BBSRC-NERC DLA award scheme, which is expected shortly. Funding for this studentship is subject to this confirmation.

2025 studentships

Project title Academic staff 
Disentangling the effects of climate change on plant-microbe interactions in salt marsh ecosystems  Dr Amanda Cavanagh (School of Life Sciences, University of Essex), Dr Natalie Hicks (School of Life Sciences, University of Essex), Professor Corinne Whitby (School of Life Sciences, University of Essex)
Global Regulators of Microbial Biodiversity  Professor Alex Dumbrell (School of Life Sciences, University of Essex), Dr David Clark (University of Essex, School of Life Sciences), Dr Sebastian Mynott (Applied Genomics Ltd) 
Machine learning for Real-time Detection of Airborne Fungi  Dr Rob Ferguson (School of Life Sciences, University of Essex), Professor Corinne Whitby (University of Essex School of Life Sciences), Dr Emma Marczylo (UKHSA), Dr Pippa Douglas (The Environment Agency) 
Modelling future Southern Ocean ecosystems  Dr Simeon Hill (British Antarctic Survey), Dr Eoin O’Gorman (School of Life Sciences, University of Essex), Dr Claire Waluda (British Antarctic Survey), Dr Victoria Warwick-Evans (British Antarctic Survey) 
Nature-based solutions for warming impacts on river ecosystems  Dr Eoin O’Gorman (School of Life Sciences, University of Essex), Dr Martin Wilkes (School of Life Sciences, University of Essex), Dr Jose Barquin (IHCantabria), Dr Alexia Gonzalez-Ferreras (IHCantabria) 
Connecting the dots: Assessing the conservation benefits of essential fish habitat networks under future climate change  Dr Anna Sturrock (School of Life Sciences, University of Essex), Professor Tom Cameron (University of Essex, School of Life Sciences), Dr Joseph Bailey (University of Essex, School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science), Dr Kieran Hyder (Cefas), Dr Nicola Walker (Cefas)

Eligibility

ARIES studentships are funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which applies the eligibility criteria laid down by its parent body, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). These are outlined in their Terms and Conditions of Training Grants document, and given in more detail in their Training Grant Guide (Annex 1), both of which can be found on the UKRI website.

UKRI announced that international students will be eligible for all UKRI-funded postgraduate studentships from the start of the 2021-22 academic year. UKRI will normally limit the proportion of international students appointed each year through individual doctoral training programmes to 30% of the total.

All UKRI-funded PhD students (UK, EU, International) will be eligible for the full award – both the stipend to support living costs, and fees at research organisations UK rate. UKRI funding will not cover international fees set by universities, but all ARIES partners have agreed to fund the top-up from UK to international fees. ARIES funding will not cover costs associated with visa or health surcharges, or additional costs associated with entry to, and living in the UK.

In case of uncertainty, please email ariesapp@essex.ac.uk.

How to apply

For October 2025 entry, the deadline for applications is 11.59pm (GMT) on 8 January 2025. Once you have reviewed the projects above, please send a covering letter and CV to ariesapp@essex.ac.uk, identifying the project that you’re interested in.

Training

ARIES students benefit from bespoke graduate training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences. Full details regarding the training provision available can be found here.

As well as ARIES opportunities, you can also benefit from Proficio, our University's unique professional development scheme for doctoral students. You receive up to £2,500 during your studies to fund specialist training across a range of areas from research skills and managing a PhD, to presenting work and getting published.

ARIES also offers advanced training courses to other PhD students at partner universities. Students don't need to be in receipt of a studentship to participate.

Get in touch
Supervisory team