Fully Funded PhD in Urban Forestry, Ecology, and Nature Recovery at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and University of Stirling Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in United Kingdom

Fully funded PhD opportunity in urban forestry, ecology, biodiversity conservation, and nature-based solutions at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in partnership with the University of Stirling.

The project, titled Plants with Purpose: Enhancing the Role of Scotland's Urban Forest for Landscape-scale Nature Recovery, focuses on how Scotland’s urban trees, woodlands, and green infrastructure can support biodiversity, ecological connectivity, and large-scale nature recovery. A key aim is to help establish an Urban Forest Observatory for Scotland and generate evidence for resilient ecological networks in urban landscapes.

The successful PhD student will work across multiple methods and themes, including GIS and spatial analysis, multi-taxa biodiversity monitoring, experimental conservation and horticultural research, and stakeholder engagement using Living Lab approaches. This is a collaborative research environment spanning research, policy, and practice.

Applicants should have a background in Ecology, Biological Sciences, Conservation Biology, Forestry, or a related discipline, with an interest in bridging science and policy. The post is advertised as a fully funded PhD studentship.

Supervisors named in the post are Dr Emma Bush, Dr Elisa Fuentes-Montemayor, Prof Kirsty Park, and Caitlyn Johnstone.

Deadline: 6 August 2026.

How to apply: Use the FindAPhD application link provided in the post. Informal inquiries are encouraged.