Fully Funded Swansea University 2022 PhD Scholarships in Next Generation Habitat Suitability Modelling, UK

Seagrass underpins ecosystem services including coastline stabilisation, ‘blue carbon’ storage, biodiversity, and nurseries for 20% of the world’s major fisheries but is critically threatened, with 30% lost globally since 1980 and 90% around the UK. Restoration of seagrass is essential for green recovery and in Wales’s Programme for Government. Swansea is a leading UK centre for seagrass research and delivering successful restoration across the UK. To upscale, effective identification of sites for restoration is vital, achieved through Habitat Suitability Modelling (HSM), and we have developed a standard HSM for UK seagrass as part of the NERC-funded project ‘Restoration of Seagrass for Ocean Wealth (ReSOW)'.

Key challenges addressed in this PhD project are:

• A shortcoming of standard HSMs is in linking environmental conditions with presence of existing populations. This identifies suitable habitat for mature populations but may not be appropriate for establishing new populations from seeds.
• To deliver effective green recovery, statistical modelling (e.g., HSM) output must be developed into decision-making tools for stakeholders use.

We will utilise cutting-edge demographic and population dynamic models to develop an iterative and reciprocal process informing modelling and policy. Training will span biomathematical modelling, stakeholder consensus building, and policy interfacing.

• Table of Content
• About Swansea University
• Swansea University PhD Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Swansea University PhD Scholarship
• Swansea University PhD Scholarship Courses
• Requirements for Swansea University PhD Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Swansea University

Swansea University has been at the cutting edge of research and innovation since 1920. We have a long history of working with business and industry but today our world-class research has a much wider impact across the health, wealth, culture, and well-being of our society. We have achieved an extraordinary level of success in recent years and our research activity exceeds that of many larger universities yet this has not compromised the friendly and relaxed atmosphere that has always characterised the �Swansea experience�. In our Centenary year, we look forward to continuing to work ... continue reading

Swansea University PhD Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Swansea University PhD Scholarship

Swansea University will provide a Scholarship that covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £15,609.

Swansea University PhD Scholarship Courses

• Biosciences

Requirements for Swansea University PhD Scholarship Qualification

 To be eligible, Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in Biosciences or a related subject, or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University)

Application Deadline

How to Apply

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:

1. Course choice – please select Biological Sciences / PhD / Full-time / 3 Year / July

   In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email [email protected] where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

2. Start year – please select 2022
3. Funding (page 8) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS83 - PhD BIOSCI’

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.
• Two references (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)

For enquiries, please contact Dr James Bull ([email protected]).

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please not that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.