Determining the carbon storage potential of Liberian mangroves.

Determining the carbon storage potential of Liberian mangroves. Closing date: 19 November 2026

Mangroves are important stores and sinks of carbon, so they play an important role in helping mitigate climate change. However, mangroves have been chronically understudied in West Africa, so little is known about how much carbon they store or how sensitive this is to anthropogenic pressures. Working in conjunction with a UKRI-funded research project, this PhD will seek to better understand how much carbon mangroves in Liberia store, and the potential resilience of this to climate change and changes in upstream land use.

The project will involve a mixture of field assessment of mangroves, laboratory analysis of sediment carbon, and GIS analysis. By working closely with the Liberian Environmental Protection Agency, project results have the potential to inform national policy to value and conserve mangroves.

The project aims to understand the amount and permanence of carbon stored by Liberia’s mangroves. Specific objectives are to:

The qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience applicants should have for this project, in addition to our standard entry requirements .

We are looking for a candidate who has:

Please note, this project involves regular field measurements in Liberian mangroves, so the candidate would have to be based in the country for a substantial portion of the project. The successful candidate will be required to attend the Manchester Metropolitan University campus for a short period throughout the research project.

This studentship is open to home and international applicants.

This funding covers home and international tuition fees for distance learning in accordance with the funding agreement. Stipends will not be provided.

If you have any questions, please contact the proposed Principal Supervisor, Martin Sullivan ( [email protected] ).

To apply you will need to complete the online application form for a full time or part-time PhD in Biological Science. Please note that you are not required to submit a research proposal through the online application portal.

Please complete the Doctoral Project Applicant Form , and include your CV and a covering letter to demonstrate how your skills and experience map to the aims and objectives of the project, the area of research and why you see this area as being of importance and interest.

Please upload these documents in the supporting documents section of the University’s Admissions Portal or email the requested documents to [email protected] .

Application closing date: Thursday 19 November 2026

Expected start date: April 2027

Please quote the reference: SciEng-Apr 2027-MS-Liberian mangroves

• Determine variation in per-unit area above and belowground carbon stocks in mangroves.
• Upscale values using remote-sensing environmental and mangrove structure datasets to estimate national carbon stocks.
• Determine degradation rates of carbon buried in mangrove soils to estimate long-term storage.
• Assess the sensitivity of mangrove carbon to sea-level rise and changes in upstream land-use.
• A background in environmental science and knowledge of mangrove ecosystems.
• Experience with methods for analysing mangrove soil carbon.
• Experience with or willingness to learn GIS and data analysis.
• The ability to conduct fieldwork in Liberian mangroves, including conversing with community field assistants.
• Experience working with government and conservation stakeholders such as the Liberian Environmental Protection Agency.

Research areas