Biology

We have a large multidisciplinary academic team ready to support you in your studies working across our two groups, Applied Ecology Research Group (AERG) and Behavioural Ecology Research Group. By combining this expertise with wider specialisms we’ve been able to create exciting projects addressing today’s key issues. As a result our research has had real impact on the human-dominated and ‘natural’ landscapes, from furthering scientific understanding to shaping environmental policy and practice.

In the Applied Ecology Research Group our primary focus is to assess, understand and mitigate anthropogenic impacts such as plastic pollution, climate change, invasive species, agriculture and urbanisation, on biodiversity and ecosystem services in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. We use a range of modern tools, including ecological network analysis, ecosystem modelling, satellite tracking and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) along with interdisciplinary techniques, such as combining the disciplines of biology and ecology with molecular biology, biogeochemistry and microbiology.

The Behavioural Ecology Research Group are an active community with core areas of interest currently including animal communication, cognition, social behaviour, and animal welfare. We cover a wide range of study organisms, including mammals, birds, insects, crustaceans, fish and cephalopods. Our research involves fieldwork in many countries and we also carry out work in museums, zoos, and laboratories.

With our wide-ranging expertise we're well-placed to provide the specialist supervision you need for your project, within an inspiring research community that values and involves its postgraduates.

As part of your programme you’ll enjoy formal research training and opportunities to gain experience working with conservation NGOs and others based in Cambridge.

There will be opportunities to present your work and represent us at internal, national and international scientific conferences, and you'll be fully immersed in the groups research activities. We also encourage cross-discipline interaction with other research groups in our University.

In addition to our Biology PhD, we've also identified a range of innovative research project opportunities for you as a postgraduate researcher.