Meet the Scholarship PhD student who is decoding shark DNA in Salford
Thanks to a widening participation scholarship, PhD student Lucy Irwin is decoding the molecular structure of sharks, rays and skates in order to further expert’s understanding of these endangered species.
Lucy Irwin
Lucy has been an animal enthusiast since childhood, but it was only during the second year of her Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology degree that she discovered her passion for marine life. Following her graduation, she continued on to her Masters at the University of Salford, where she focused on researching illegal Lobster fisheries that can cause serious harm to marine environments.
Throughout her master's degree, Lucy built numerous invaluable connections within the academic community at the University of Salford; she ended up supporting them in a teaching technician role. Lucy then successfully secured the opportunity to undertake a PhD to progress her passion even further.
As the first in her family to attend higher education, Lucy was eligible to apply for a Widening Participation Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) scholarship that meant her PhD was fully funded by the University.
She now spends her days uncovering the differences between DNA across different shark species, providing crucial information for other experts and marine biologists, working alongside partners such as Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust. By uncovering which species of sharks, rays, and skates are entering the global food market, her research exposes the growing danger to these already threatened creatures.
Lucy said: “Although my research is on a molecular level, it contributes to further studies looking at the conservation and monitoring of these creatures in trade worldwide. They are currently facing a real extinction crisis and so it is essential that we understand which species are being overfished, so that we know where to focus our conservation efforts.”
After thriving in her undergraduate and masters, Lucy knew that research was what she wanted to pursue long-term. Thanks to the funding from the scholarship, she has been able to fully dedicate herself to her research, free from financial concerns.
The University of Salford offers fully funded Postgraduate Research Scholarships to those who meet widening participation criteria. This is with the aim of increasing the representation of students from diverse backgrounds whilst also bringing new perspectives and experiences into the research arena.
Alongside the financial support, Lucy credits much of her backing to the strong PGR community at the University of Salford, she said:
“I’ve been at Salford for a really long time now, and it’s definitely the people that make you want to stay.
“I have a great supervisory team, made up of four experts, meaning that I’m never short of help or assistance.
“Alongside this, I am really active in the postgraduate development network, where I attend workshops and conferences, and network with many other students across similar disciplines.
“A PhD is a huge undertaking and isn't easy, but the incredible support systems available make this achievement possible.”
The Postgraduate Research Widening Participation scholarships are currently open for applications until Friday 30 January 2026.
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