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PhD Projects Available
The School of Biological and Environmental Sciences is pleased to be able to offer a number of potential PhD topics in the following areas:
- Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- Environmental Change
- Environmental Processes and Biochemistry
- Soil Science and Geoarchaeology
The following funding opportunities are available to outstanding candidates wishing to study towards a PhD in the School of Biological & Environmental Sciences. Please note that the dates below are internal deadlines for supervisors wishing to put a student forward for consideration – you will need to contact potential supervisors well in advance of this date and you should check details of individual projects which may have their own deadlines.
1). Five Research Apprenticeships. This is a new scheme, in which the apprentice will complete a PhD over 5 years, with research towards the PhD taking 60% of the time. They will receive a stipend £1,000 per annum above the standard NERC rate. The remaining 40% of their time they will spend providing teaching support (demonstrating in practicals, marking, limited lecture delivery) (20%), and in gaining research experience (20%). The latter will involve being assigned for a year at a time to a particular research group, where the apprentice will learn a range of appropriate skills and be involved in one or more research projects. For ecological projects with distinct field seasons, the 5 year system will allow students to gain data from 5 seasons, and provide the opportunity to publish several papers before the end of their PhD. The aim is that the combination of PhD, teaching and broad research experience will make the apprentices highly employable within the academic/ research sector. We also wish to strengthen the research ethos of our undergraduate and masters programmes by increasing our emphasis on research-led teaching and providing greater contact between students and our researchers Closing date 3 March 2010.
2). 1 x 3-year NERC (Natural Environment Research Council) studentship (fully funded). Closing date 3 March 2010.
3). University-funded studentships. Stirling is offering to fund 50 studentships across all disciplines. Allocation will be on a competitive basis, with heavy weighting on the quality of the student. Closing date 17 March 2010.
4). Several PhDs advertised on this site have specific funding in place – please check project details for deadlines on these studentships.
Application Procedure: the three research areas above provide a list of PhD projects. Contact the named supervisor to find out more about specific projects. Application is by CV and covering letter with contact details of two referees to the relevant supervisor.
