Current Opportunities and How to Apply

The School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences at The Open University (Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) invites applications for the following full or part-time PhD studentships open to all nationalities.

We strongly advise that you get in touch with the contact person associated with each project for informal discussion and advice. For any procedural or administrative questions please email STEM-EEES-PHD@open.ac.uk

OU1 - Herbicides on plant biodiversity, conservation and restoration on floodplain meadows

Funding: CENTA

Contact: irina.tatarenko@open.ac.uk

OU2 - Reconstructing 30 million years of past climate change

Funding: CENTA or OU STEM

Contact: Neil.edwards@open.ac.uk

OU4 - Big problems need small molecules: A novel synergy of waste and microbiological innovations for creating sustainable chemical feedstocks

Funding: CENTA

Contact: Daniel.payne@open.ac.uk

OU5 - The strains of dating Rb/Sr to the rescue?

Funding: CENTA

Contact: barbara.kunz@open.ac.uk

OU6 - Planning policy development to support biodiversity within urban green spaces

Funding: CENTA or OU STEM

Contact: David.gowing@open.ac.uk

OU7 - Tree greenhouse gas emissions in response to stress and environmental change

Funding: CENTA

Contact: Alice.Fraser-Mcdonald@open.ac.uk

OU8 - The macroevolution of leaf venation

Funding: CENTA or OU STEM

Contact: Luke.mander@open.ac.uk

OU9 - Exploring the influence of access to nature to diversify participation in Earth and environmental sciences and improve health and well-being for minoritized citizens

Funding: CENTA or OU STEM

Contact: Richard.holliman@open.ac.uk

OU10 - Reconstruction of Indian Monsoon dynamics in response to Pilocene climate

Funding: CENTA or OU STEM

Contact: Pallavi.anand@open.ac.uk

OU12 - Microbial survival in martian brines: implications for planetary protection

Funding: OU STEM

Contact: karen.olsson-francis@open.ac.uk

OU14 - Financing net-zero: policies and frameworks for carbon dioxide removal by enhanced rock weathering

Funding: OU STEM

Contact: neil.edwards@open.ac.uk

OU15 - Developing trace element microanalytical tool for palaeoclimate reconstructions

Funding: OU STEM

Contact: Pallavi.anand@open.ac.uk

OU16 - The energy transition and stability of the global financial system

Funding: OU STEM

Contact: philip.holden@open.ac.uk

OU17 - Enhancing cooperative extension service provision for sustainable development goals (SDG’s): case study of macadamia in Malawi

Funding: OU STEM

Contact: yoseph.araya@open.ac.uk

OU18 - Vegetation dynamics through the late Paleocene and early Eocene in southern England

Funding: OU STEM

Contact: luke.mander@open.ac.uk

OU19 - Sustainable cities, green infrastructure, environmental plant physiology, tree ecology, soil biogeochemistry

Funding: OU STEM

Contact: kadmiel.maseyk@open.ac.uk

Funding information

For projects funded through the Doctoral Training Partnership CENTA successful candidates will receive:

An annual stipend of £18,622 paid directly to the student in monthly increments for 3.5 years
Full university fees at Home level, and successful international candidates should discuss with the OU a fee waiver to cover the difference between Home and International fees.
A research training support grant (RTSG) of £8,000

For projects funded by the OU STEM faculty the successful candidates will receive:

An annual stipend of £18,622 paid directly to the student in monthly increments for 3.3 years
Full university fees, and successful international candidates should discuss with the OU a fee waiver to cover the difference between Home and International fees.
A research training support grant (RTSG) of £3,300

Eligibility and Requirements

Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in a relevant subject with a grade at least equivalent to a 2:1 OR must demonstrate at least a pass at MSc level. There is no residency or nationality limit on these studentships.

How to apply

For projects labelled either with funding "CENTA" or with funding "CENTA or OU STEM" you will need to submit:

A CENTA application form, downloadable from: CENTA application
A CV with the names of at least two referees (preferably three and who can comment on your academic abilities)
An Open University application form, downloadable from: Home OU application form (if you are resident in the UK) or an Overseas OU application form (if you are an international applicant). In Section 14 of the Open University application form, please insert the title of the project to which you have applied. In Section 15 of the Open University application form please tick "yes".

For projects labelled with funding "OU STEM" you will need to submit:

A EEES application form, downloadable from: EEES application. Projects labelled 'CENTA or OU STEM' should not complete this form, the CENTA form is sufficient.
A CV with the names of at least two referees (preferably three and who can comment on your academic abilities)
An Open University application form, downloadable from: Home OU application form (if you are resident in the UK) or an Overseas OU application form (if you are an international applicant). In Section 14 of the Open University application form, please insert the title of the project to which you have applied. In Section 15 of the Open University application form please tick "yes".

Applications must be sent to STEM-EEES-PHD@open.ac.uk by 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 10th January 2024.

CASE Studentship

Development and validation of innovation , near real-time analytical tools to enable mitigation of contamination with cleanrooms of the UK spacecraft & satellite industry

Project Highlights:

Opportunity to develop expertise in cutting edge volatile organic compound detection and analysis for contamination detection.
Opportunity to develop skills in analytical techniques, contamination control, and materials and process (M&P) protocols within the space sector.
This industrial CASE studentship is a collaboration between The Open University (OU) and Airbus Defence and Space Ltd (Airbus DS) providing both academic and industrial research experience.

Overview:

The STFC Industrial CASE (Cooperative Awards in Science and Technology) studentship provides a 3.5-year stipend that allows the student to spend periods of time on placement at Airbus DS in Stevenage, UK. The cumulative placement period will be no less than 9 months but this will be spread over the period of the studentship and will not normally exceed 18 months.

Protecting the space environment is a critical 21st century challenge to ensure the space sector remains environmentally sustainable and socially responsible. For those that manufacture space and satellite equipment, contamination resulting from surfaces, people and materials is a particular problem that is poorly understood but could have serious adverse impacts on extra-terrestrial environments.

Many materials used in the manufacture of spacecraft, particularly those used for bonding, are silicone-based. This is because they are easy to use, work well in a large range of temperatures, have good adhesion and are UV and ozone resistant. Certain silicones emit low levels of volatile gases. However, in the space environment, there are both thermal and vacuum effects that increase outgassing of certain compounds that can settle on sensitive equipment causing parts, such as lenses, to become contaminated and image quality to be reduced. If they are deposited on equipment that lands on a celestial body, this could contaminate other natural environments, including those that might be habitable.

This studentship builds on a successful Open University/Airbus DS STFC Impact Accelerator Account project (scheme can be found online) and will apply a novel approach to volatile analysis within space sector cleanrooms.

The aims of this studentship are:

To identify, profile and catalogue volatile, semi-volatile and surface organic compounds in cleanrooms and understand the influence of VOCs on bonding, and cleaning methodologies.
To develop techniques, in partnership with the Airbus technical team, to help identify individual contamination compounds, and assess risk of silicone contamination vs cure.
To develop analytical strategies to then deal with real time contamination events.
To develop and optimise analytical methods for flight hardware, cleanroom surfaces and air.

Training and skills:

The Open University (OU) is based in Milton Keynes where the student will receive training in chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques to facilitate the identification of organic compounds. These techniques will include Thermal Desorption Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC-MS), additional headspace analysis techniques, and Selective Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS).

The student will receive training in M&P protocols in line with contamination control at Airbus’ Stevenage site, which focuses on spacecraft manufacturing and played a key role in the assembly of the ExoMars rover. They will have the opportunity to shadow the M&P staff and cleanliness control engineers when on site. They will learn how cleanrooms function, ISO standards and why specialist clothing is required for the different ISO standards. They will be able to observe the current laboratory techniques in use (FTIR) and be able to compare these to their own methods/results.

The student will benefit from bespoke training organised by the School of Earth, Environment and Ecosystem Sciences (EEES) and by AstrobiologyOU, including mandated training, such as health and safety and laboratory skills. They will benefit from being a member of a cross-school research group, with relevant in-house training. AstrobiologyOU offers dedicated training events and seminars, including CV-writing support, managing budgets and fellowship writing training. AstrobiologyOU is committed to identifying teaching opportunities for any student that desires them and offering public engagement opportunities to support communication skills development.

Possible timeline:

Year 1: Perform a literature review and create initial databases of cleanroom compounds. Initial placements (likely 2 weeks in duration) at Airbus for materials and processes training, and sample collection. Training on analytical equipment.

Year 2: Optimise techniques and react to real time events that occur. Further placements (between 2-4 weeks each) to continue sample collection and react to contamination events. Presentation at national/international conference.

Year 3-3.5: Consolidation of all techniques and develop final protocols. Further placement, conference presentations. Thesis writing and submission.

Further reading: https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/developing-people-and-skills/stfc/training/types-of-training/industrial-case-studentships/

Further details:

Students should have a strong background in analytical chemistry and/or materials chemistry, and an interest in planetary or space science. The PhD student will be a member of the School of Earth, Environment and Ecosystems Sciences and the cross-faculty AstrobiologyOU group, and will join a vibrant postgraduate community at the Open University.

Please contact Dr Claire Batty (claire.batty@open.ac.uk) for further information.

Applications should include: