Neil Edwards

A fully funded PhD opportunity is available at The Open University, focusing on the macroevolution and co-evolution of insects and flowering plants (angiosperms) in the Amazon. The project will use computational biodiversity and palaeoclimate modelling approaches to explore deep-time coevolution, leveraging the eco-evolutionary model ‘Gen3sis’ and newly developed paleoclimate datasets. The research aims to understand how climate and landscape changes have influenced diversification and extinction dynamics in insects and angiosperms, with a particular focus on the Amazon region. The student will collaborate with an interdisciplinary, international team, including partners at Goethe University Frankfurt and Kew Science, and will have opportunities for travel and collaboration. The position is fully funded, covering stipend, tuition fees, and additional support for fieldwork, training, and conferences, funded by CENTA (Central England NERC Training Alliance). Applicants should have a strong background in biology, environmental science, earth science, or related fields, and an interest in computational modelling and evolutionary biology. The supervisory team includes Neil Edwards, Phil Holden, Alexandre Monro, and Bryony Blades. The application deadline is December 28, 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the CENTA studentship page.