PhDs

AstrobiologyOU are committed to developing the next generation of researchers and offer PhDs across all areas of the group’s research, spanning several academic schools at The Open University.

The following full or part-time PhD studentships, open to all nationalities, are now inviting applications

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

PhD Projects Available for CENTA Doctoral Training Consortium Funding, with AstrobiologyOU Members:

The CENTA Doctoral Training Consortium is funded by a NERC Doctoral Landscape Award. Please see the CENTA website for consortium details. 

OU5. Microbial origins of methane emissions and uptake in forested closed landfills. Lead supervisor Dr Alice Fraser-McDonald (alice.fraser-mcdonald@open.ac.uk) Co-Investigator Dr Michael Macey

OU9. Pushed to the Extreme: Extremophile-Mediated Bioremediation of Smouldering Sewage Sludge Emissions. Lead supervisor Dr Michael Macey (michael.macey@open.ac.uk)

OU13. Follow the fluids: hydrothermal alteration in Iceland and implications for Early Earth. Lead supervisor Dr Julia Semprich (julia.semprich@open.ac.uk)

PhD Projects Available for OU STEM Faculty Funding with AstrobiologyOU members:

OU15. Tracking the fate of ocean carbon within the ice shells of icy moons. Lead supervisor Dr Mark Fox-Powell (mark.fox-powell@open.ac.uk)

OU17. Exploring the contribution of meteorite impacts on the Earth’s early ocean composition. Lead supervisor Dr Nisha Ramkissoon (nisha.ramkissoon@open.ac.uk)

PhD Projects Available for The School of Physical Sciences (SPS) Funding with AstrobiologyOU members:

P2. Tracking the fate of ocean carbon within the ice shells of icy moons. Lead supervisor Dr Mark Fox-Powell (mark.fox-powell@open.ac.uk)

For detials of other PhD projects currently open for applications and full details on how to apply for both the CENTA and OU funded PhD Opportunities, please visit the EEES School Website, for the SPS funded PhD please visit the SPS School Website

We have previously offered PhDs in areas including:

• Microbial survival in Martian brines: implications for planetary protection
• Development and validation of innovative, near real-time analytical tools to enable mitigation of contamination within cleanrooms of the UK spacecraft & satellite industry
• Tracing the dispersal of extremophiles within geothermal aerosols in Iceland
• Carbon monoxide-fuelled life in saline environments
• After the dust has settled: The post-impact hydrothermal system at Rochechouart impact crater and implications for Early Earth
• A deep dive into biogeochemical cycling in Icelandic Hot Springs
• From Warm and Wet to Cold and Dry on Mars: Ancient Environments as Seen from a Rover Perspective
• Signatures of organic-salt-ice interactions in the plumes of Enceladus and other icy moons
• Whose Commons is it Anyway? Environmental Authority and the Development of Space Law
• How to Find Life on Mars: Investigating biological potential and putative biosignature formation

PhD Funding

PhDs are funded from a number of different sources that will cover fees and living expenses.
This includes funding from The Open University, the Central England NERC Training Alliance (CENTA), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the UK Space Agency (UKSA).
Details of funding are specific to each PhD offered, but general details can be found on the OU's Studentship and funding page.

We welcome the opportunity to work with organisations that could fully or partially support a PhD student through their studies.

PhD Student Life

All our PhD students are based at The Open University’s campus in Milton Keynes

Hear more about this experience from current PhD students.

AstrobiologyOU Alumni

All of our PhD students and researchers have gone on to a range of successful careers.

Contact astrobiology@open.ac.uk for general queries.