Research opportunities

We recruit around 15-20 new PhD students each year. There are also many opportunities for post doctoral or technical research on projects within the research sections (advertised both externally and internally):

• Biomedical Sciences
• Environmental Biology

As a postgraduate research student, you would have the opportunity to conduct original, supervised research within one of these areas, leading to the writing of a thesis for your degree after 3 to 3.5 years.

Scientific quality, service to the public or industry, published output, income generation, and technology transfer are the main motivations for our research. Specialised technical training is organised as required, and all research students develop more generally applicable skills through personalised programmes drawing on the courses put on by the School and the University.

Research Interests

Research in the School covers a wide range, and we encourage you to visit the personal web pages of staff to find out more.

In Biomedical Sciences:

• Virology [Ian Jones, Tamara Gritsun, Ben Neuman]
• Bacteriology [Simon Andrews, Sheila MacIntyre, Simon Clarke, Rob Jackson]
• Cardio-vascular health and mammal physiology [Gavin Brooks, Jon Gibbins, Ketan Patel, David Leake, Andy Bicknell, Phil Dash]
• Cancer [Philippa Darbre, Mike Fry]
• Endocrinology [Phil Knight]
• Structural Biology [Kim Watson, Liam McGuffin, Jim Dunwell]
• Plant-microbial interactions [Rob Jackson, Andy Wetten]

Environmental Biology, Horticulture and Plant Science

• Urban Ecology Over 50% of humanity lives in urban areas, yet most of ecological science focusses on sparsely inhabited or agricultural areas. If we are to conserve the diversity of life and enhance our own lives in towns and cities, we must understand their ecology better and manage it well.This research theme draws together the programmes of many members of staff in areas covered below
• Conservation [Mark Fellowes, Graham Holloway, Phil Baker, Jon Mitchley, Colin Prescott, Julie Hawkins, Alastair Culham, Stephen Jury]
• Parasitology and Forensic Biology (Acarology, Endosymbionts of mites and insects)[Alejandra Perotti]
• Evolutionary Biology [Alejandra Perotti, Mark Pagel, Mark Fellowes, James Cook, Louise Johnson, Alastair Culham]
• Plant taxonomy and phylogenetics [Julie Hawkins, Alastair Culham, Stephen Jury]
• Plant development [Nick Battey, Rob Jackson, Andy Wetten, Jim Dunwell]
• Crop Protection and Ecotoxicology [Amanda Callaghan, Mike Shaw, Paul Hatcher, Bob Froud-Williams, Graham Holloway, Colin Prescott]
• Landscape Restoration [Jon Mitchley]
• Horticulture [Paul Hadley, Andy Wetten, Mike Shaw, Bob Froud-Williams, Nick Battey]

Links

The department is active within the wider research community and scientific synergy with other UK and international research establishments such as the Institute for Animal Health, Rothamsted Research,  Syngenta and many others is vibrant.