Ph D Scholarships In Optimising Welfare And Survival In Live Lobster Exports

Job Details

This PhD is part of TRACE (Transforming Agri‑Food and Seafood Supply Chains) and is funded through the PEACEPLUS Programme, which supports research aimed at improving the sustainability and resilience of high‑value live seafood export. 

The project will investigate the molecular, physiological, and environmental drivers of transport‑induced stress in the European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas), a species of high commercial value but limited biological understanding. Long‑distance transport is essential for supplying European and international markets, yet it induces significant stress, reduces survival, and affects welfare and product quality. Despite its economic importance, there is currently no high‑quality genomic resource and very limited mechanistic data for this species. 

The PhD will generate the first chromosome‑level, functionally annotated reference genome for P. elephas, enabling the identification of key stress‑responsive genes and molecular pathways. Controlled transport simulations will investigate how factors such as temperature, humidity, dissolved oxygen, noise, and moisture‑retention materials disrupt cellular homeostasis, metabolic regulation, and immune function. Building on this mechanistic insight, the research will evaluate whether functional dietary additives can enhance resilience and improve survival during long‑distance transport. 

Integrating genomics, physiology, nutrition, and applied aquaculture science, this PhD will deliver a mechanistic basis for improving welfare, reducing mortality, and strengthening the reliability of live‑lobster supply chains. The project is suited to candidates interested in marine biology, crustacean physiology, aquaculture, stress biology, or molecular ecology, and provides advanced training in genomics, molecular biology, experimental physiology, and international research collaboration under the TRACE project. 

Requirements

Academic Entry Requirements: Must hold an upper second class or above (2.1 or 1st) BSc in Marine Biology or equivalent, or MSc in related subject.  

To Apply for the Scholarship: PhD applications should include a 1‑page cover letter and a CV and send it to Dr Alex Wan, with email header ‘PhD application 2026’

Contact Name: Dr Alex Wan 

Contact Email:Alex.wan@universityofgalway.ie  

Contact Information

Application Deadline 24 Apr 2026