About the Project
ACCE+ DLA is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith or religious belief, pregnancy or maternity, parental or caring responsibilities or career pathway to date. We understand that a student’s potential can be shown in many ways and we strive to recruit students from all backgrounds, and support them on their scientific journey.
We have designed our application systems to identify candidates who are likely to be successful in research regardless of what opportunities may have been available to them prior to their application.
Various support and guidance on applying for an ACCE+ DLA studentship, including how to apply; what we’re looking for (including our assessment rubric); details of financial support, training, and placement opportunities available; and details of our recruitment process, can be found at https://accedtp.ac.uk/, in the ‘prospective applicants’ tab.
Project overview
Saltmarshes and dune slacks are both highly sensitive to coastal change, and record evidence of previous coastal dynamism in their sediments in different ways. This project will combine present day sampling with palaeo-ecological analysis, using a range of techniques to answer the following questions:
Q1. How have slow shifts in climate influenced coastal wetlands?
Q2. Do acute and chronic factors act synergistically to have greater impact on these systems, or are there feedbacks which increase resilience?
Saltmarshes can store evidence of major disruptions from local erosion up to tsunami. Dune slack wetlands store evidence of changes in wet/dry climates and saline intrusion over time. This will be the first study to use palaeo-ecological techniques simultaneously in saltmarsh and dune slacks, motivated by increasing appreciation of the value of palaeo-ecological research to inform practical ecosystem conservation and management. This project will address these knowledge gaps by assessing foraminifera, diatom and testate amoeba communities against historical baselines.
Fieldwork in year 1 will involve planning a survey of sites across the UK, taking sediment cores and groundwater samples to establish current conditions. In year 2 palaeo samples of older sediments at key focal sites (on the west and the east coast) will be taken. Integrated data analysis, combined with dating of sediments, will draw these multiple strands together in year 3.
You will gain an understanding in key ecological successional and hydrological processes affecting biological communities in dune slacks and saltmarsh. You will learn palaeo-ecological techniques such as foraminifera, diatom and testate amoebae analysis to establish pH, salinity and trophic status. Laboratory skills acquired will include diatom identification, preparation of samples for radiometric dating, analysis of water and soil samples. You will have the opportunity to develop your presentation skills at conferences and written skills through publishing scientific papers. You will be part of the NERC ACCE+ community with access to the training opportunities and events that occur across the various institutions.
Project supervisor details:
- Dr Katherine Selby, University of York
- Professor Laurence Jones, UKCEH
- Dr Graham Williams, Natural Resources Wales
- Dave Bromwich, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
How to Apply
Notes and details of how to apply are available here: https://accedtp.ac.uk/how-to-apply/
All applicants to ACCE+ must complete an online application form (see the relevant webpages for full details per ACCE+ partner). This form consists of questions that replace a traditional CV, questions about the project/s you are applying to, and the questions that make up the ACCE+ guided personal statement proforma. The personal statement proforma questions are designed to standardise this part of the application to minimise the difference between those who are given support and those who are not. In addition, depending on which ACCE+ University you apply to, you may be asked to submit additional documents via email (all details are in the online form and the ACCE+ page for each University).
Candidates should not submit a separate CV and cover letter or personal statement via email. CVs and cover letters or personal statements received by email will not be considered as part of your application.
Informal enquiries about the application process may be made via our contact us page .
Part-Time Study Options
All ACCE PhDs are available as part time or full time, with part time being a minimum of 50% of full time, unless stated otherwise in the advert.
Project CASE Status
This project is a CASE project. Your project will be co-supervised by the non-academic partner organisation, and you will spend 3-6 months on a placement with your CASE partner in their workplace. You will experience training, facilities and expertise not available in an academic setting, and will build business and research collaborations.
The PhD will start in September 2026
Funding Notes
NERC ACCE+ DLA programme starts from October 2026.
UKRI provide the following funding for 3.5 years:
• Stipend (2025/26 UKRI rate £20,780)
• Tuition Fees at UK fee rate (2025/26 UKRI rate £5,006)
• Research support and training grant (RTSG).
Please note that UK visa and relocation costs cannot be covered by ACCE+ DLA.
