PhD Studentship: Wildlife Connectivity Potential of Tree-Based Agricultural Systems (TROPS lab, Newcastle University)

Award Summary

100% Home fees covered and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £21,805. Research funds are available for the field and lab related aspects of the PhD research.

Overview

Agricultural expansion and intensification are major drivers of habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss. Yet agricultural landscapes are not necessarily biodiversity deserts. Trees retained or planted within farms (TIFs) may provide habitat, food resources and movement pathways for wildlife. However, we know surprisingly little about which characteristics of tree-based agricultural systems make them effective for wildlife movement, and whether their contribution to connectivity depends more on the amount of tree cover, its spatial configuration, tree characteristics or the wider landscape context. This PhD will investigate the wildlife connectivity potential of tree-based agricultural systems, combining biodiversity surveys, animal movement data, landscape modelling and remote sensing to understand how trees within agricultural landscapes influence wildlife movement and landscape connectivity.

Field research: A major component of the PhD will involve intensive in-situ field measurements in selected sites of the TIF-CER field network and integration of data from across the field network. The project will use standardised biodiversity monitoring across to examine how wildlife responds to tree-based farming systems. Methods may include: camera trapping; bird point counts; acoustic monitoring; environmental DNA; other standardised wildlife surveys. Species will be characterised according to ecological traits, habitat requirements and functional roles. Particular attention will be given to species that depend on tree resources and that are functionally important within agricultural landscapes.

Number Of Awards

1

Start Date

April 2027

Award Duration

3.5 Years

Application Closing Date

15/10/2026

Sponsor

Newcastle University

Supervisors

Prof Marion Pfeifer (Newcastle University)

Dr Evelyn Jensen (Newcastle University)

Eligibility Criteria

You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project. For more information click here 

Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 including in all sub-skills. 

The studentship covers fees at the Home rate (UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status and meet the residency criteria). International applicants are welcome to apply but will be required to cover the difference between Home and International fees. 

International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme. 

How To Apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal 

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.  

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:  

• Search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8020F
• Research Area: Biology
• Select PhD Biology as the  programme of study 

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:

• A ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) - upload a document or write a statement directly into the application form
• The studentship code SNES315 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field
• When prompted regarding your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal. 

You must submit one application per studentship; you cannot apply for multiple studentships on one application.

Contact Details

marion.pfeifer@newcastle.ac.uk

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