Opportunities

Details of different opportunities to join the lab.

PhD projects

I host new PhD projects through NERC, BBSRC and the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh each year. For NERC and BBSRC, please look on the Doctoral Training Programme websites or search at FindaPhD.com. 

NERC   |   BBSRC

Please get in contact to discuss opportunities in the autumn.

General opportunities

I'm always keen to hear from anyone interested in studying the evolution and ecology of plants. Students not eligible for UK research council funding, or interested in proposing their own projects, should contact me directly rather than applying for advertised positionsto discuss project ideas and funding possibilities. 

Research themes could include, but are not limited to: 

(1) the evolution of novel life history strategies (particularly plant parasitism), 

(2) population genetics and phylogeography of British native plants, 

(3) genomic analyses of the widespread North American plant Mimulus guttatus

(4) speciation histories of diverse tropical genera. 

Projects typically include a mixture of fieldwork, experimental studies and genetics/genomics. Students are encouraged to send their CV and brief summary of research interests to start the application process in motion. I'd welcome students from the UK and abroad, and will offer advice on the best funding strategy.

Undergraduate

Undergraduate opportunities include lab or field-based summer projects (funded by the Genetics Society, deadline 31st March. Please apply early), undergraduate honours projects, and casual lab work.

Genetics Society

MSc

I will be offering a number of MSc student projects (including for those studying on the Quantitative Genetics and Genome Analysis programme, and the Diploma in the Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants), including the analysis of population genomic data in Mimulus.

 Quantitative Genetics and Genome Analysis programme   |   Diploma in the Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants

I'd be very happy to hear from individuals interested in postdoctoral research, and will provide guidance on funding applications. One option is to apply for Marie-Curie Actions fellowships, another is to be a named post-doc on a NERC standard research grant (deadlines in January and July). 

Marie-Curie Actions   |   NERC standard research grant

There are a number of other schemes, depending on your research interests, nationality and career stage; please contact me for details.

 

Example PhD projects I've advertised in the past

Offered through EASTBIO

Offered through NERC e3 

Genetic variation at range margins in monkeyflowers (please contact for details)

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