Program Overview

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Our research covers a wide range of areas, from the genome to communities and ecosystems, allowing the opportunity for developing novel ideas and inter-disciplinary projects. We offer supervision in a wide range of environmental science topics including sustainable agriculture, pollution, aerosol science, the impact of nanoparticles on the environment, marine biology, environmental resource management and environmental microbiology. As a research student at Essex, you’ll work at the heart of our internationally acknowledged and well-connected research community. We offer world-class supervision and training opportunities, and encourage you to engage with other researchers, professionals, practitioners and research users, where possible for example using the generous funding from Proficio to attend conferences and training courses. A PhD and MPhil are also available. Both full- and part-time study can be supported, and you can start this course in either January, April or October. Why we're great.

• Collaborate alongside our research groups working on important international and national problems using cutting-edge techniques
• You will be part of our collaborative Research Groups that work on important international and national problems using cutting-edge techniques, and who have strong links with a range of organisations such as Public Health England, the Environment Agency, Cefas, Defra, oil companies and Anglian Water
• The quality of our work is reflected in the large number of publications in high-profile academic journals our staff feature in

Our expert staff

Within our School of Life Sciences, you will be allocated a supervisor whose role it is to guide you through the different stages of your research degree. In some cases, you may be jointly supervised. The support provided by your supervisor is a key feature of your research student experience and you will have regular one-to-one meetings to discuss progress on your research. Initially, your supervisor will help you develop your research topic and plan. Twice a year, you will have a supervisory board meeting, which provides a more formal opportunity to discuss your progress and agree your plans for the next six months. Your technical and intellectual development will be enhanced by becoming part of a Research Group, and participating in School Seminars.

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Specialist facilities

Our School provides a comprehensive range of facilities for environmental science research which include:

• a state-of-the-art tropical coral-reef research facility
• high-throughput molecular ecology facilities
• analytical facilities for measuring trace gases, hydrocarbons and lipids
• a greenhouse with GM containment and controlled environment growth facilities
• a Plant Phenomics facility for high throughput screening of model plant species
• extensive microbial cultivation facilities

A dedicated study room allows all our postgraduate research students to have access to a desk and a computer outside of the research laboratories. This provides a focal point for our postgraduates, facilitating reading and writing as well as good communication and a sense of community.

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Your future

Our postgraduates go on to a range of careers. Many choose to continue their scientific research by taking up postdoctoral positions in the UK or overseas. Others go on to work with industry, governmental and non-governmental organisations and environmental agencies. We support your career development by a mentoring scheme and employability events.