Course Overview

All PhD students in the College of Science will enrol in a Structured PhD
Research in the Zoology Department is mainly concentrated in the following broad areas: evolutionary biology, including the evolution of animal development; ecological parasitology; aquaculture and fisheries management; ecology, behaviour, and conservation of a variety of animal groups, including: inshore marine and freshwater fish; mammals and birds, especially squirrels, bats, and game birds; centipedes (both coastal and inland species); introduced aquatic organisms (such as zebra mussels).

Programmes Available

Structured PhD, 4 years full-time.
Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System

Associated

Learning Outcomes

Entry Requirements

To be eligible to enter on a programme of study and research for the degree of PhD you must have reached a high honours standard at the examination for the primary degree or presented such evidence as will satisfy the Head of School and the College of your fitness.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Current research projects

Information on projects available here.

Current funded research opportunity

Work Placement

Related Student Organisations

Career Opportunities

Find a Supervisor / PhD Project

If you are still looking for a potential supervisor or PhD project or would like to identify the key research interests of our academic staff and researchers, you can use our online portal to help in that search

Research Areas

Extreme marine environments—Dr Louise Allcock  
Dr Allcock works on Extreme marine environments, Antarctica and the deep sea.  She is interested particularly in the benthic fauna of submarine canyon systems and is fascinated by cephalopods, especially their evolution.

Jellyfish and other gelatinous zooplankton— Dr Tom Doyle 
Dr Doyle uses biotelemetry to document the movement of jellies in the ocean, and also applies these tracking techniques to blue sharks, sea bass, and other ocean predators.

Venom systems in terrestrial arthropods—Dr Michel Dugon 
Dr Dugon is interested in the evolution, development and ultrastructure of venom systems in terrestrial arthropods, particularly centipedes and arachnids.

Benthic ecology—Dr Bob Kennedy
Dr Kennedy is a benthic ecologist researching how macrofaunal community structure and behaviour are linked to bioturbation in soft sediments.  He uses sediment profile imagery (SPI) to study these processes in situ.

Ecology of invasive species—Dr Colin Lawton 
Dr Lawton is a mammal ecologist particularly interested in the ecology of invasive species such as the grey squirrel and the conservation of native species such as the endemic Irish stoat.

Evolution of marine sponges—Dr Grace McCormack
Dr McCormack is an evolutionary biologist currently focusing on the evolution of marine sponges.  She is also interested in the causes and spread of diseases including HIV in humans, pathogens and parasites in bees and the adaptive evolution of honeybees.

Freshwater and diadromous fish in Ireland—Dr Kieran McCarthy  
Dr McCarthy's research focuses on migratory behaviour and conservation.

Sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and community ecology—Dr Anne Marie Power 
Dr Power is interested in sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, community ecology and impacts of climate change, and in marine natural products—particularly the potential of barnacles to yield wet-setting glue for medical purposes.

Researcher Profiles

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€5,750 p.a. (€5,890 including levy) 2024/25

Fees: Non EU

€15,000 p.a. (€15,140 including levy) 2024/25

Extra Information


EU Part time: Year 1 €4,250 p.a. (€4,390 including levy) 2024/25


All students, irrespective of funding, must pay the student levy of €140.

Contact Us

Ms. Anne Cryan 
T: +353 91 492 323  
E: zoology@universityofgalway.ie
https://www.universityofgalway.ie/zoology/