Masters-by-Dissertation Studentship - Investigation of Salt Marsh Restoration Approaches

University of Essex

Qualification type: Master of Science by Dissertation (MSD)

Location: Essex

Funding for: UK Students

Funding amount: Full time Master of Science by Dissertation Home fees and a standard tax-free stipend for one year equivalent to the UKRI National Minimum Doctoral Stipend (£20,780 in 2025-26).

Hours: Full Time

Closes: 28 November 2025, 17:00 GMT

Application link: https://www.essex.ac.uk/Postgraduate/Research/Opportunities/Investigation-of-salt-marsh-restoration-approaches

The project

Applications are invited for a fully funded (UK Home student fees only) 12 month Masters-by-Dissertation studentship.

Your research will study how the beneficial use of dredging materials (soft muds) can be used in restoring degraded salt marshes. This research is linked to a salt marsh restoration project being undertaken by Harwich Haven Authority to restore salt marshes in Copperas Bay, Essex, in collaboration with the RSPB, Essex Wildlife Trust, and other stakeholders. The long term goals are to develop approaches that could be used for large “seascape” scale habitat restoration. Trials in Copperas Bay will start in February 2026, and the period of study will align with investigating the year of the restoration project.

Techniques will involve assessing the salt marsh plant community composition, measurements of sediment properties (shear strength, water content, total organic matter and organic carbon) and integrating data into wider datasets collected by the project team. Field work may involve long days in the field, and hours will be varied depending on tides. Laboratory work and data collation will be conducted. Full training will be provided.

You will receive training in appropriate techniques and work closely with other ongoing research projects: REWRITE, Transforming the Thames and Catchment to Coast. The successful student will receive further professional training as part of the wider School of Life Sciences postgraduate research cohort.

Funding

Funding for this project is for one year and includes:

• Full Home tuition fees for a Master of Science by Dissertation (MSD).
• A tax-free UKRI standard stipend (£20,780 per annum in 2025-2026).

The successful candidate will also be able to access £1,000 of Proficio funding for professional skills development and conference attendance. Project costs will be covered.

Person specification

• Applications are invited from candidates with a 1st class or upper second class B.Sc. degree in a relevant science subject, and/or an appropriate integrated Masters level qualification, or equivalent experience.
• Applicants will need to be physically able to carry out field work in coastal locations, be able to swim, and be in possession of a full driving licence valid in the U.K.
• Experience in marine ecology, coastal habitat surveying, a knowledge of ecology, conservation and habitat restoration and experience of outdoors activities are desirable, but training in appropriate techniques will be provided.

To apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.