Modelling the response of soil and vegetation to agri-environment options
Supervisor: Simon Smart
Registered: Bangor University
Based: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster
Would you like to earn a PhD doing research at the cutting edge of soil and plant ecology, land-use change and agriculture? We are looking for an enthusiastic, numerate student with a passion for ecology. The project will use state-of-the-art niche modelling and existing very high-quality field data to estimate the role of agri-environment schemes in halting the loss of biodiversity. You will investigate the timescales of plant community assembly in response to scheme options and explore soil conditions and dispersal limitation as constraints on response? At the end of the PhD you will have gained experience in ecological modelling. You will have contributed to the global evidence base regarding the role of land-use and climate change as drivers of soil and vegetation change and gained experience in writing up your findings in high impact journals. Your research may also support the novel challenge of developing new schemes post-Brexit.
Eligibility: This project will suit a numerate student that has an interest in addressing ecological and conservation questions through the development and application of statistical models from soil and vegetation survey datasets. Training will be provided in modelling, statistics, field ecology and botany. Applicants should hold a minimum of an EU or UK Honours Degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in subjects such as Natural Sciences, Ecology or Environmental Sciences. Familiarity with GIS and R would be an advantage. Only open to UK/EU residents.
For further details please contact Dr Simon Smart, ssma@ceh.ac.uk.
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