Newcastle University Adaptive Management Strategies of Amenity Grasslands PhD Scholarship 2024: (Deadline 23 February, 2024)

Recreational and amenity land provides important green space for people but can be poor for biodiversity. Frequent mowing regimes by local authorities have left many areas of amenity grassland thin and compacted, with low botanical diversity. Changes to mowing regimes could significantly improve biodiversity on the one hand, but public perception is often that land not intensively managed is uncared for.

Northumberland County Council (NCC) currently manages 300 ha of amenity grassland and is seeking to improve biodiversity in these habitats, whilst taking into account the operational and logistical constraints of mowing management and the uncertainties of climate change. In collaboration with Newcastle University, this exciting interdisciplinary project will examine the social, economic and ecological impacts of changing mowing regimes across Northumberland, with four interlinked objectives:

OBJ. 1: Identify the current extent and condition of recreational and amenity land managed by NCC using Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

OBJ. 2: Review best practice management methods for temperate amenity grassland, with a focus of mowing machinery and frequency of cutting.

OBJ. 3: Experimentally test the impacts of mowing management on plant-pollinator networks, soil health and other biodiversity.

OBJ 4: Explore public uses of amenity grasslands and perceptions of different management options.

About Newcastle University

Newcastle University (Officially, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a public research university located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North-East of England. The university can trace its origins to a School of Medicine and Surgery (later the College of Medicine), established in 1834, and to the College of Physical Science (later renamed Armstrong College), founded in 1871. These two colleges came to form one division of the federal University of Durham, with the Durham Colleges forming the other. The Newcastle colleges merged to form King’s College in 1937. In 1963, following an Ac…

Newcastle University Adaptive Management Strategies of Amenity Grasslands PhD Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Newcastle University Adaptive Management Strategies of Amenity Grasslands PhD Scholarship

100% Home fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £18,622 (2023/24 UKRI rate). Additional consumable funds of £3,700 pa are provided for this project.

Newcastle University Adaptive Management Strategies of Amenity Grasslands PhD Scholarship Courses

• Biological sciences

Requirements for Newcastle University Adaptive Management Strategies of Amenity Grasslands PhD Scholarship Qualification

You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences or similar.

Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.

The studentship covers fees at the Home rate (UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status and meet the residency criteria). International applicants are welcome to apply but will be required to cover the difference between Home and International fees.

International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Newcastle University Adaptive Management Strategies of Amenity Grasslands PhD Scholarship

Start Date:

• April 2024

Award Duration:

• 3.5 years

Application Closing Date:

• 23rd February 2024

Sponsor:

• Northumberland Country Council (NCC) & School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, (SNES) Newcastle University

Supervisors:

• Prof. Darren Evans (SNES)
• Dr. Helen Adamson (SNES)
• Dr. Amy Proctor (SNES)
• Mr. Greg Gavin (NCC)

Documents Required for Application

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:

• A ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) – upload a document or write a statement directly in to the application form
• The studentship code SNES283 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field
• When prompted regarding your research proposal – select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal.

In the ‘Supporting Documentation’ section please upload:

• your CV

Application Deadline

23 February, 2024

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Newcastle University on applyto.newcastle.ac.uk to applyYou must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:

• Select 2023 as the Year of Entry for an April 2024 start
• Search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code:8020F
• Research area Environmental Science
• Select PhD Biology (Full-Time) as the programme of study

for more details visit: OFFICIAL LINK.