Marine Biology

Overview

As a research student in the Marine Biology programme at the University of 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.

Specialist facilities

We have excellent facilities for marine and freshwater studies both in the laboratory and in the field. In house facilities include:

• a range of aquatic and terrestrial mesocosms, including large temperature-controlled aquaria for simulating tropical or temperate and fresh or marine systems

• replicated environmental outdoor mesocosms simulating tidal and terrestrial systems

• a state-of-the-art tropical coral-reef research facility devoted to fully climate-controllable experiments

• multiple pH-stating systems to control CO2 concentration for ocean acidification experiments

• a suite of field equipment and boats

• microbial culturing facilities

• advanced bioimaging suite to visualise and analyse images of biological processes in real time

You have access to a wealth of local and overseas field sites through ongoing funded projects and collaborations. Extensive marine and estuarine habitats of national and international ecological importance are located within a short distance of our Colchester Campus.

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.

Your future

Our graduates go on to a range of careers. Some choose to continue into a research career by taking up doctoral positions in the UK or overseas. Others work with governmental and non-governmental organisations and environmental agencies, consultancies and voluntary organisations.