Future-Proofing the Environment: Evaluating the Environmental Impacts of Next-Generation Plastics

Project Code: TOLHURST_UEA_ARIES27_CASE

Future-Proofing the Environment: Evaluating the Environmental Impacts of Next-Generation Plastics

Project Code: TOLHURST_UEA_ARIES27_CASE

Project Description

Supervisors

Dr Trevor Tolhurst, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia – contact me

Professor Dannielle Green, ARU

Dr O’Gorman O’Gorman, University of Essex

Dr Richard Cooper, UEA

 

Scientific Background:

Increasing production, low recycling rates (below 10%), and single-use packaging are driving a global crisis in plastic pollution, with millions of tonnes of plastic accumulating in ecosystems each year. In response, governments and industry are investing heavily in biodegradable alternatives to conventional fossil fuel-derived plastics. However, the perception that these materials are ‘safer’ for the environment means far less attention has been paid to their consequences for organisms and some of the more recent and promising alternative materials have not been tested at all. Emerging evidence suggests that because biodegradable plastics break down more rapidly than traditional plastics, they may be more immediately harmful. Wider assessment of the effects of these alternative materials on environmental health are urgently needed to determine whether they provide genuine ecological benefits over conventional plastics.

 

Research Methodology

A series of laboratory and in situ field experiments will compare the impacts of biodegradable plastics, conventional plastics and paper-based alternatives on aquatic ecosystems. Experimental manipulations will be conducted at environmentally relevant concentrations in the River Yare (Norfolk) and Breydon Water estuary (Great Yarmouth), representing freshwater and transitional marine environments where plastic litter commonly accumulates. Biodiversity associated with each treatment will be characterised at the beginning and end of the experiment. Ecosystem functioning will be assessed through measurements of sediment oxygen demand and carbon cycling using benthic chambers, and nutrient exchange from core incubations. Findings will provide much-needed evidence on whether recently developed biodegradable plastics offer ecological benefits over conventional plastics and will support policies aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of plastic pollution, including delivery of the UK Marine Strategy and UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.

 

Training

The candidate will join the Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation group. The supervisory team will provide comprehensive training in experimental design, laboratory and field skills, ecotoxicology, biogeochemical cycling, taxonomy, bioinformatics, statistical analysis, and science communication. External training courses (e.g. mixed effects modelling) will be available and cohort training is provided by ARIES.

 

Person Specification:

We are looking for a candidate who is enthusiastic about laboratory and fieldwork, ecology, toxicology, and ecosystem functioning.

Suitable degrees include biology, ecology, environmental sciences, or similar.

References

  • Walkinshaw C, Lindeque PK, Thompson R, Tolhurst T, Cole M (2020). Microplastics and seafood: lower trophic organisms at highest risk of contamination. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 190:110066.
  • Jolly D, O'Gorman E, Green D.S., Cooper R., Bakir A & Tolhurst T (2025). Beyond plastics: occurrence and ecological risks of non-plastic microfibres in aquatic organisms. Microplastics and Nanoplastics.6, 2.
  • Wright, A.C, Boots B., Ings, T., Green, D.S. (2024) Above- and below-ground field study on the impacts of conventional and alternative mesoplastics on Hordeum vulgare growth and soil invertebrate communities. Chemosphere, 365.
  • Walkinshaw C., Tolhurst TJ, Lindeque PK, Thompson RC & Cole M (2023). Impact of polyester and cotton microfibers on growth and sublethal biomarkers in juvenile mussels. Microplastics and Nanoplastics. 3, 5.
  • Kratina P, Watts TJ, Green DS, Kordas RL, O'Gorman EJ (2019). Interactive effects of warming and microplastics on metabolism but not feeding rates of a key freshwater detritivore. Environmental Pollution. 255:113259.

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2027. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 16 December 2026.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£21,805 p.a. for 2026/27) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
  • ARIES postgraduate researchers (PGRs) benefit from bespoke training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis. International applicants should check whether there are any conditions of visa or immigration permission that preclude part-time study. All advertised project proposals have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive and appropriate research and fieldwork environment with respect to protected characteristics. If you have any concerns, please contact us.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship, follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential and will be stored on the UEA SharePoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be asked to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. Please see https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information.

Apply Now

Apply now via the University of East Anglia Application Portal