Ecology & Environmental Biology

MRes Research Funding at SCENE

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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 11 April 2025. Your application will be acknowledged on receipt.

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

Information enquires are welcomed and if you have any questions please email mvls-ecolbio@glasgow.ac.uk.

Ecology & Environmental Biology

What our students say

Completing my MRes at the University of Glasgow was a wonderful experience and I recommend the program to students who wish to further their knowledge and research skills.  Numerous learning opportunities were provided across a broad range of subjects and support and guidance from supervisors was invaluable. The experience gained throughout my MRes studies contributed to my success in obtaining a PhD scholarship and publishing my results in a peer-reviewed journal.

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My year studying the MRes at the University of Glasgow was a great year in which I learnt so much and had an amazing time. The course, which has a strong focus on statistics and programming and the opportunity to conduct an 8-month research project, accelerates your career in ecological research. The lecturers and researchers are all so welcoming and supportive should you ever need any extra help or advice. I was also incredibly lucky to live at our field station SCENE on the bursary scheme where I made great friends with the staff and other students working and living there. I was able to study and work surrounded by an outstanding natural area on the shores of Loch Lomond.

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Studying the MRes at the University of Glasgow has been a wonderful and invaluable experience. The MRes programme was full of challenging courses that improved my research skills to conduct my master project and to continue a career as a life sciences researcher. The 8-month project gave me the opportunity to work for several months with top professionals within a research group in a field of my interest. This group was very supportive during the whole programme and nowadays we are working to publish the results in a peer-reviewed journal. As an international student, I am thankful for all the support received from the IBAHCM staff and University of Glasgow itself to feel at home. Furthermore, I was positively impressed by the organisation of the master programme and the excellent work environment in the IBACHM.

 

Ecology & Environmental Biology

Projects/Dissertations

Some examples of research projects undertaken by MRes students.