Passive acoustic monitoring to inform evidence-based policy for coral reefs. PhD (Royal Society Funded) Ref: 5889

Supervisors

Dr Sophie Nedelec - University of Exeter, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Professor Louisa Evans - University of Exeter, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy

Dr Miles Parsons - Australian Institute of Marine Science 

Dr Pedro Fidelman - Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland 

Coral reefs are culturally and biologically important ecosystems threatened by climate change and local stressors. Until greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, we can improve local protection and management for resilience and sustainability. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) and experimental evidence have revealed that traffic noise is a major pollutant causing stress for the inhabitants of coral reefs and affecting their survival. Altering marine traffic patterns around reefs can improve local conditions with immediate effect. This project will examine how PAM can inform us about reef condition and the efficacy of protection and restoration.

In this fully funded PhD project, the successful Post-Graduate Researcher will work collaboratively with Dr Nedelec’s research group who are developing novel ecoacoustic predictors for coral reef resilience. They will refine and test these novel ecoacoustic predictors on new and pre-existing datasets. The PhD Researcher will then apply these predictors at a regional scale along the GBR in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Specific sites will be chosen to reflect different policy and management contexts, noise exposures and reef health indicators. The ecoacoustic predictors and regional monitoring sites will be co-designed where possible, informed by the Australian Institute of Marine Science Indigenous Partnerships team, close stakeholder collaboration, workshops and policy analysis.

The ideal PhD candidate for this marine research project will possess strong fieldwork and analytical skills and be open to interdisciplinary research. Competency in software like R, MATLAB, or Python, is highly desirable, alongside a robust understanding of research design and quantitative methods, and openness to learning qualitative approaches such as Indigenous Standpoint Theory.

The studentship will be awarded on the basis of academic merit, relevant experience and interests. Students who pay international tuition fees are unfortunately unlikely to be eligible for this studentship, due to funder budget restrictions. Fee information: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/pg-research/funding/fees/.

The conditions for eligibility of home fees status are complex, please seek advice if you have moved to or from the UK (or Republic of Ireland) within the past 3 years or have applied for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. There may be opportunities to seek funds to cover international fees and other costs for eligible First Nations students from Australia, please enquire if this is of interest.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of science or technology.

Essential skills: Proficiency in quantitative analysis techniques. Desirable skills: Competent snorkeler or free diver, good communication and engagement skills, openness to interdisciplinary research. Competency in software like R, MATLAB, or Python, is highly desirable, alongside a robust understanding of research design and quantitative methods, and openness to learning qualitative approaches such as Indigenous Standpoint Theory.

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide proof of proficiency. Click here for more information.

How to apply

Apply now

To apply, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button above. In the application process you will be asked to upload several documents

• CV
• Letter of application (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).
• Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying)
• Two references from referees familiar with your academic work. If your referees prefer, they can email the reference directly to PGRApplicants@exeter.ac.uk quoting the studentship reference number.
• If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English.

The closing date for applications is midnight on 6^th July 2026 BST.  Interviews will be held virtually in the week commencing 13^th July.

All application documents must be submitted in English. Certified translated copies of academic qualifications must also be provided.

Please quote reference 5889 on your application and in any correspondence about this studentship.

Summary