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Marsden PhD Scholarship in Coral Reef Biology
Scholarship details
| Study levels | Ph D |
|---|---|
| Value | $35,000 stipend per annum, plus Tuition Fees for 3 years |
| Close date | Monday, 5 January 2026 |
| Domestic/international | Both domestic and international |
About the scholarship
Two PhD scholarships are available to study potential mechanisms of symbiont loss in the coral bleaching process, and the adaptive capacity of reef corals to climate change. The student's projects will contribute to a larger three-year project, funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund. Study organisms will include the model sea anemone (‘Aiptasia’), and various tropical/subtropical reef coral species, including Indo-Pacific species from the Red Sea as well as some that occur locally in Aotearoa New Zealand. The students will be supervised by Prof. Simon Davy at Victoria University of Wellington, with support from collaborators Prof. Virginia Weis (Oregon State University), Prof. Arthur Grossman (Carnegie Institution), Prof. David Suggett (King Abdullah University of Science & Technology, KAUST) and Dr. Clint Oakley (Victoria University of Wellington).
Entry requirements
A postgraduate degree in a relevant biological discipline. A sound knowledge of marine biology is desirable, but not essential, while a good understanding of cell biology and physiology will be viewed very favourably. Possible methods to be used during the PhD project include omics (transcriptomics, proteomics and/or metabolomics), immunohistochemistry, photo-physiology, and imaging mass spectrometry. There is a minimum requirement of First Class Honours (or equivalent) or a GPA of 3.8/4.0 from the most recent university degree qualification. While much of the research will be conducted in Wellington, applicants must have a willingness to travel for overseas field work and/or laboratory visits. There is no diving qualification requirement. Applicants must display excellent written and verbal science communication skills.