MRes Research Funding at SCENE

‌
The Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment (SCENE) is the field station of the University of Glasgow. As part of the School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, within the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (MVLS), SCENE is dedicated to excellence in field research and teaching.

SCENE is the foremost field station for research and teaching in ecology and environmental sciences in Scotland. It is situated in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, within 1 hour commute by car to the main University campus. Today’s research is on a wide range of topics across ecology, evolutionary biology, physiology, environmental change and disease ecology.

Free accommodation is available to registered students on the MRes Ecology & Environmental Biology who wish to undertake research work at SCENE. This covers year-round accommodation (no utility bills) from mid-September – end August while undertaking the MRes programme. It is intended to encourage high quality field-based research and provide the opportunity for students to fully participate in research activities at the field station. Residents would be required to assist with domestic duties to support field-courses (cleaning field-station rooms/toilets, changing bedding and kitchen duties) as a mandatory condition of the residency. You would be paid for this work and given a fractional contract that may average approximately 7 hours/week and would be variable in duration throughout the residency to accommodate field course activities and your studies. This contract would be in addition to accommodation provided.

Previous students have undertaken a wide range of projects, including migration of Atlantic salmon smolts in freshwater and marine systems, thermal ecology of woodland birds and pathogen-host dynamics of Lyme’s disease in wild deer. 

Successful applicants will be provided with accommodation and utilities, consisting of modern en-suite single rooms with communal kitchen and sitting room. Students will also be given access to excellent office, laboratory and research facilities, including aquaria. Field research in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats is well supported, with immediate access to field sites by foot or by boat. Pets are not allowed due to restricted space in shared accommodation and for allergy risks to other residents.

Eligibility

Applications are open to prospective students who have received a conditional or unconditional offer of a place on the MRes Ecology & Environmental Biology programme. Please make sure you apply well in advance for the MRes so that you hold an offer when applying for this funding.

How to apply

You should apply by covering letter (maximum 2 pages of A4), along with a copy of your CV. In your covering letter, you should address the following:

1. How do your interests overlap with research at SCENE?
2. In what ways would this opportunity to live and work at SCENE benefit your future career?

To help you write your covering letter, you will find information about SCENE-supported research on the research section of the SCENE website.

Applications should be emailed as a single PDF file to mvls-ecolbio@glasgow.ac.uk, no later than 28 June 2024. Your application will be acknowledged on receipt.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview by Zoom/Teams.

Information enquires are welcomed and should be sent to Dominic McCafferty, the MRes programme lead.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email mvls-ecolbio@glasgow.ac.uk.