PhD Opportunities in Ecology in United Kingdom

The Yorkshire Environmental Sciences Doctoral Training Network (YES-DTN) is recruiting more than 26 fully funded PhD scholars for environmental science research projects in the United Kingdom. Projects are hosted by the University of Leeds and the University of York , bringing together research schools and departments across environmental and natural sciences. The network’s research spans Dynamic Earth and Natural Hazards , Atmosphere and Climate , and Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity . Parti...

[Fees plus a stipend of £21,805 per annum for 2026/7.] This PhD studentship at the University of Exeter explores how living materials in nature can inspire new understanding of active matter , behaviour, and thermal regulation in bumblebee nests . The project examines how social insect colonies maintain efficient nest thermoregulation through self-organisation, social information exchange, space use, and interactions with nest materials and the surrounding climate. The research sits at the inter...

Newcastle University is offering a 3.5-year PhD studentship investigating the establishment and efficacy of the rust fungus Puccinia komarovii as a biological control agent for invasive Himalayan balsam ( Impatiens glandulifera ) in riparian ecosystems. The project will assess how environmental conditions affect rust fungus infection success across invaded sites. Working with CABI, Tweed Forum and Tees Rivers Trusts, the researcher will collate existing monitoring data, conduct detailed field as...

Cardiff University School of Biosciences is advertising an MSCA PhD studentship in the area of biotic interactions and response diversity , with a planned start in April 2027 . The project, led by Fredric Windsor (Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University), asks whether interactions between organisms can homogenise responses and reduce response diversity at the community level. The research will combine modelling and experiments , making it a strong fit for students interested in ecology, environmenta...

PhD opportunity in soil biodiversity , soil ecology , and mountain ecology at the University of Stirling . This studentship, funded through the Iapetus DTP , investigates how spreading shrubs in mountain grasslands affect soil life under climate warming and nitrogen pollution . The project combines fieldwork, microscopy, and eDNA to study hidden soil fauna and ecological responses across mountain systems. Research activities include a multi-factor field experiment in the Scottish Highlands and t...

Fully funded PhD opportunity at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) in collaboration with Forest Research. The project, titled Future-proofing British conifer forests , asks how forests can be made more resilient to Phytophthora ramorum , an important invasive tree pathogen. The research will investigate the biology, ecology, and evolution of this organism and will contribute to sustainable forestry and tree health. This is an interdisciplinary PhD with training across plant path...

PhD opportunity at the University of Leeds in robotics , mechatronics , computer vision , and environmental engineering . The project, titled Pervasive Robotic Control of the Invasive Alien Species Floating Pennywort (Hydrocotyle Ranunculoides) , focuses on developing autonomous aquatic robots to detect, collect, and manage floating pennywort in real river and canal environments. The research sits at the intersection of robotics , ecology , and environmental resilience . Possible research direct...

[Fully funded studentship covering fees, a maintenance stipend of £21,805 per annum for 2026/27, and a research training and support grant (RTSG). Limited support for international applicants includes a waiver of the difference between home and international fees; relocation, visa, and health surcharge costs are not covered.] PhD Studentship at the University of East Anglia in Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of Responses to Environmental Stress . This research project investigates how o...

PhD opportunity via the Iapetus DTP: Enhancing conservation decision-making through scientific innovation . The project focuses on conservation science , biodiversity metrics , and the scientific development of IUCN’s Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric. The work will involve collaboration with colleagues at IUCN , including Thomas Starnes , and is being advertised by Louise Mair (Research Fellow at Newcastle University). This is a strong fit for applicants interested in envir...