The deadline for all applications is 10 January 2019, with a start date of Sept/Oct 2019 . Applications are now open for the Edinburgh Earth, Ecology and Environment Doctoral Training Partnership (E4 DTP). PhD Projects Title Summary Supervisors (click on link for main contact) The role of trust in conserving biodiversity and reducing conservation conflict, a case study in Nepal This project examines the role of trust in biodiversity conservation and how trust can be promoted to reduce conservation conflict, through a case-study with National Trust for Nature Conservation, Nepal. Dr Sam Staddon, University of Edinburgh Dr Aidan Keane, University of Edinburgh Prof. Steve Redpath, Aberdeen University Rewilding the “great wood of Caledon”: using remote sensing to understand natural forest regeneration in Scotland How best can remote sensing support reforesting and rewilding in Scotland? Dr Casey Ryan, University of Edinburgh Dr Aidan Keane, University of Edinburgh Prof Jaboury Ghazoul, University of Edinburgh Wood fuel transitions and their impact on tropical ecosystems What effect will changing demand for wood fuels have on the ecology of tropical forests and savannas? Dr Casey Ryan, University of Edinburgh Dr Dan van der Horst, University of Edinburgh Unexplored Transitions between Forest and Savanna in Africa The student will combine inventory data from forests and savannas in Africa, while filling crucial sampling gaps with fieldwork, to identify the conditions under which forest transitions to savanna. Dr Kyle Dexter, University of Edinburgh David Harris, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Dr Casey Ryan, University of Edinburgh Improving Agroforestry in Latin America with the Versatile Tree Genus Inga The student will contribute to a funded project using experimental and observational approaches to determine the best Inga species for agroforestry, while developing their own projects on specific species of Inga. Dr Kyle Dexter, University of Edinburgh Toby Pennington, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Creating an index of crop-farming traits to assess the biodiversity footprint of foods: what is the biodiversity impact of your breakfast? This multidisciplinary project will generate new indices to measure the biodiversity impact of specific crops and cropping techniques to enable the individuals to compare the biodiversity footprints of different foods. Dr Alfy Gathorne-Hardy, University of Edinburgh The Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University (CAWR); The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Hampshire How to design and implement a National Ecological Network that contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals? By co-designing and testing approaches to implement ecological networks delivering multiple societal benefits, this PhD project advances key areas of science and the development of a Scottish national ecological network. Dr Marc Metzger, University of Edinburgh James Hutton Institute, Forest Research, Scottish Wildlife Trust Testing the drivers of Arctic tundra biodiversity and phenology change This PhD project will test the drivers of plant biodiversity, phenology and trait change in Arctic tundra ecosystems using data collected from drones, time-lapse photography and ecological monitoring. Dr Isla Myers-Smith, University of Edinburgh UoE School of Biological Sciences,; Dartmouth College, USA; Aarhus University, Denmark Forest nitrogen dynamics in a changing climate how does the wood-wide-web recycle organic nitrogen? This project aims to understand the role of organic nitrogen in forest ecosystems, linking plant-derived nitrogen to key microbial processes in soils. The research will inform our understanding of forest ecosystem responses to environmental change, nitrogen pollution and forest management Dr Lorna Street, University of Edinburgh Forest Research, UoE Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies / GAAFS, UoE GAAFS The physics of permafrost soils: modelling thaw and the carbon cycle This PhD project will advance our understanding of permafrost thaw and the potential feedbacks between carbon storage in permafrost soils and global climate change. Dr Lorna Street, University of Edinburgh Prof Mathew Williams, University of Edinburgh Prof Richard Essery, University of Edinburgh Diagnosing and forecasting human impacts on tropical forests This project will probe the biophysical and social factors that are linked to changes in forest states across the tropics. Knowledge of these factors will help to guide sustainable management of forests and identify where and when forest change are likely to occur. Prof Mathew Williams, University of Edinburgh Dr Steven Hancock, University of Edinburgh Dr Mark Naylor, University of Edinburgh Global change effects on boreal forests: how will boreal ecosystems respond to climate warming? This project will test whether boreal latitudes are undergoing tipping point transitions that restructure ecosystems due to warming and feedbacks between nutrient cycling and vegetation. Prof Mathew Williams, University of Edinburgh Dr Lorna Street, University of Edinburgh Dr Isla Myers-Smith, University of Edinburgh Using a new generation of lidar and radar satellites to improve snow in weather and climate models A map of vegetation structure will be made from a new generation of lidar and radar satellites. Accurate vegetation structure maps are essential to drive the snow models used in weather and climate forecasting. Dr Steven Hancock, University of Edinburgh Prof Richard Essery, University of Edinburgh Dr Noel Gourmelen, University of Edinburgh This article was published on 2022-10-27
