PhD Studentship : A Multi-Scale Quantitative Investigation of Micro- and Nanoplastic Disruptions in Algal Physiology, Trophic Dynamics, and Carbon Sequestration

University of Birmingham - School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Plastic pollution has introduced vast quantities of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) into aquatic ecosystems, raising urgent questions about their impacts on biodiversity and global biogeochemical cycles. Among the most critical but poorly understood aspects is how MNPs interact with plankton communities, which form the foundation of food webs and drive the ocean’s biological carbon pump-a key regulator of atmospheric CO₂.

Emerging studies show that MNPs can impair nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, and growth in algae, while also reshaping community composition by favouring opportunistic species. These changes cascade through ecosystems: plastics can alter carbon export by binding with algal cells into fast-sinking aggregates or, conversely, reducing sinking when attached to buoyant particles. Moreover, predators often ingest MNPs indirectly through contaminated prey, with transfer efficiencies up to an order of magnitude higher than direct uptake. Yet despite these findings, our understanding of how MNPs affect plankton-driven processes and carbon cycling remains fragmented, with few quantitative datasets under realistic ecological conditions.

This PhD project will bridge that gap by combining field surveys, laboratory experiments, and advanced analytical tools. Water and plankton samples from UK coastal waters will be analysed to quantify MNP types, sizes, and concentrations, correlated with plankton community metrics. Using innovative labelling and state-of-the-art techniques, the student will investigate species-specific uptake across representative algae, linking particle properties to cellular physiology and nutrient assimilation. Controlled feeding experiments will trace trophic transfer into zooplankton and higher consumers, generating quantitative coefficients for ecological risk models. Finally, the project will integrate these data into a predictive framework to assess how MNPs disrupt plankton community dynamics and the efficiency of the biological carbon pump.

The research will provide fundamental insights into the ecological and climate implications of plastic pollution, with outcomes directly relevant to environmental agencies, fisheries managers, and international policy. Training will be highly interdisciplinary, spanning environmental nanoscience, plankton ecology, analytical chemistry, and ecological modelling, equipping the student with cutting-edge skills and an outstanding platform for career development in environmental science.

For further information on this project and details of how to apply to it please visit https://centa.ac.uk/studentship/2026-b15-a-multi-scale-quantitative-investigation-of-micro-and-nanoplastic-disruptions-in-algal-physiology-trophic-dynamics-and-carbon-sequestration/

Further information on how to apply for a CENTA studentship can be found on the CENTA website: https://centa.ac.uk/apply/

Funding notes:
This project is offered through the CENTA3 DLA, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Funding covers: annual stipend, tuition fees (at home-fee level), Research Training Support Grant.

Academic requirements: at least a 2:1 at UK BSc level or a pass at UK MSc level or equivalent.

Further information: https://centa.ac.uk/apply/

International students are eligible for studentships to a maximum of 30% of the cohort. Funding does not cover any additional costs relating to moving or residing in the UK. International applicants must fulfil the University of Birmingham’s international student entry requirements, including English language. Further information: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgt/requirements-pgt/international/index.aspx.

References:
Jambeck, J.R., et al., 2015. Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223), pp.768–771.
Rillig, M.C., et al., 2020. Microplastic effects on plants. Science, 368(6498), pp.1430–1431.
Wieczorek, A.M., et al., 2019. Toxicity of microplastics to marine zooplankton. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(9), pp.5387–5395.
Gao, L., et al., 2023. Effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms. Aquatic Toxicology, 255, p.106395.
Binda et al., 2024. Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1), p.545.
Su et al., 2020. Microplastic pollution in the environment. Chemosphere, 244, p.125485.