Assessing Managed Moorlands as Breeding Areas for Waders and Merlin -PhD in Biological Sciences. Ref: 5522

Supervisors

Primary: Professor Charles Tyler, Biosciences, University of Exeter, 

Secondary:  Dr Orly Razgour, Biosciences, University of Exeter, 

                          Dr Anke Lange, Biosciences, University of Exeter, 

The University of Exeter’s Department of Biosciences is inviting applications for a PhD studentship funded by The Moorlands Conservation Trust and University of Exeter to commence on 1 October 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. For eligible students the studentship will cover tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £20,780 for 3.5 years full-time, or pro rata for part-time study. The student would be based in Biosciences in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the Streatham Campus. 

The UK government’s 25-year plan sets out to stem the decline of biodiversity and enable its recovery and we urgently need ways to help achieve this. Loss of biodiversity is seen especially amongst UK upland bird species, where there have been precipitous declines in breeding populations over the last 50 years. Upland moorlands in England, Wales and Scotland that are managed for farming and game shooting, support breeding sites for some of our rapidly declining waders, including the Curlew and Lapwing that are now red-listed species (species of greatest concern), however to our knowledge there has not been a detailed systematic analysis of the productivity these breeding sites. 

This PhD studentship will build on survey work we have carried out over the last 8 years on upland moorlands in England assessing habitat needs for breeding wading birds (including, Curlews, Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Golden Plover, Snipe and Redshank) and raptors (Merlin). In partnership with the Moorlands Conservation Trust -and supported by a highly skilled (and funded) field team, the PhD studentship will bring together these existing data sets, with new observational data the student will collect on where these birds nest, clutch sizes, and breeding success, and analyse them to assess how upland game and farmland management systems impact on some of our rapidly declining bird species. Through established links with the British Trust of Ornithology, the student will further assess their findings with the wider bird breeding data for England, Wales and Scotland. Studies will also be carried out into dietary aspects of the bird species studied for selected upland study sites. Here field-based surveys will qualify invertebrate populations (above ground and soil dwelling) across the study landscapes in the areas where the wading birds forage to assess invertebrate food availability (biodiversity and species abundance) and faeces collected from fledgling waders for dietary analysis through DNA metabarcoding. 

For work on the Merlin, dietary analysis will be carried out through DNA metabarcoding on samples collected that will include faeces (and pellets) from around the nest and throat swabs from chicks in their nests. Collectively, working with the Moorlands Conservation Trust, this information will build understanding on breeding habitat preferences for some of the UK’s most iconic and rapidly declining bird species for improving management of upland moorland conservation practices and for informing UK government Biodiversity Action Plans. The successful student will receive extensive training in conservation science, field biology, avian biology, ecology, molecular biology, qGIS and statistical methods, under the supervision of a highly experienced and interdisciplinary team at the University of Exeter. They will also benefit from working with an extremely well skilled field team in ornithology. The student with access to cutting-edge laboratory facilities and a dynamic research environment. 

The supervisory team has a very wide network of national and international collaborators, including academics, government, industry and regulatory bodies to which the student will have access to develop their own networks. Opportunities to present their results at scientific conferences, workshops and stakeholder forums will provide the student with valuable experience in communicating their research, expanding their professional network, and advancing their career development. 

The studentship will be awarded on the basis of merit. Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply, but should note that the award will only provide payment for part of the international tuition fee (~£25k) and no stipend. International applicants need to be aware that they will have to cover the cost of their student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD. 

The conditions for eligibility of home fees status are complex and you will need to seek advice if you have moved to or from the UK (or Republic of Ireland) within the past 3 years or have applied for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. The collaboration involves a project partner who is providing funding [and other material support to the project], this means there are special terms that apply to the project, these will be discussed with Candidates at Interview and fully set out in the offer letter. The collaboration with the named project partner is subject to contract. Please note full details of the project partner’s contribution and involvement with the project is still to be confirmed and may change during the course of contract negotiations. Full details will be confirmed at offer stage.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of

Biology, Conservation Science or other relevant field. Applicants with a Lower Second Class degree will be considered if they also have Master’s degree. 

Applicants with a minimum of Upper Second Class degree and significant relevant non-academic experience are encouraged to apply. Prospective s candidates will ideally have a strong interest in wildlife biology/ornithology/conservation, experience in designing and conducting independent research, and excellent written and oral communication skills. They should also have good experience in statistical methods and GIS. 

Ideally, the candidate will also have some experience in conducting molecular lab work (e.g., DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, metabarcoding). Good field /observation skills will also be considered as an advantage. If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide proof of proficiency. Click here for more information.

How to apply

Apply now

To apply, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button above. 

In the application process you will be asked to upload several documents 

• CV 

• Letter of application (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project). 

• Two references from referees familiar with your academic work. If your referees prefer, they can email the reference direct to PGRApplicants@exeter.ac.uk quoting the studentship reference number. 

• If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English.

 The closing date for applications is midnight on 16th May 2025. 

Interviews will be held in the week commencing 2nd June 2025. All application documents must be submitted in English. Certified translated copies of academic qualifications must also be provided. Please quote reference 5522 on your application and in any correspondence about this studentship.

Summary