PhD in Ecology and Evolution - Evolution and Behaviour in Leeds United Kingdom | University of Leeds

Pursuing a research degree in the Faculty of Biological Sciences allows you to acquire and enhance skills as an autonomous researcher in your selected discipline. Guided by your principal supervisor and additional co-supervisors, you'll conduct pioneering research on specific biological challenges while joining a vibrant research community employing interdisciplinary methods to address contemporary scientific inquiries. During your PhD journey, you'll not only deepen your expertise in your specialized area but also cultivate broader competencies through structured training programs, seminar participation, and conference engagements.

The Ecology and Evolution Research Group (EERG) examines organism-environment interactions through dual approaches. Behavioral ecology studies within the group span diverse animal behavior investigations, utilizing both laboratory models (Drosophila fruit flies, Plodia pantry moths, Tribolium flour beetles) and longitudinal field studies (seabirds, Caspian seals, badgers). These investigations fundamentally explore how individual behaviors influence macro-level phenomena, whether in population dynamics, trait evolution, or ecological network sustainability. EERG's physiological ecology research similarly tests core hypotheses about plant and animal physiological adaptations to environmental shifts.