Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions about possible projects for MRes, PhDs or postdocs/fellowships.
PhD project opportunities
We are currently advertising one project on the NERC Doctoral Training Programmes:
We will also shortly be advertising a Wellcome Trust funded PhD on:
Please contact me if you are interested in projects and future funding opportunities, including DTPs co-tutelle PhDs with international parters, and China Scholarship Council funding.
For more information about DTP programmes please see: here for the BBSRC, here for NERC and here for the MRC.
If you want to discuss these or other opportunities, please remember to send me:
We are currently advertising one project on the NERC Doctoral Training Programmes:
- Sensory and cognitive ecology of speciation across habitat gradients: see here [click me] for more details. Deadline is January 13th 2025, see here [click me] for application details.
We will also shortly be advertising a Wellcome Trust funded PhD on:
- Neuro-evo-devo: evolution of key cell fate switches determining neuron number: Please check back later, or contact me for details.
Please contact me if you are interested in projects and future funding opportunities, including DTPs co-tutelle PhDs with international parters, and China Scholarship Council funding.
For more information about DTP programmes please see: here for the BBSRC, here for NERC and here for the MRC.
If you want to discuss these or other opportunities, please remember to send me:
- a CV
- a short paragraph on your general interests
- what you're looking for, and why you think we might fit that bill.
Masters projects opportunities
I welcome applications for Masters by Research projects. Projects can focus on any area our lab currently works on; ecology, behaviour, neuroanatomy, neurodevelopment, and genomics, and I can help students design a project that fits their interests and provides a range of training experiences. Examples of past/potential MRes project titles include:
In general Masters by research programmes are, sadly, self-funded, but student loans are available for UK citizens. The University of Bristol is, however, currently offering some funding for Masters students, particularly those from historically marginalised groups, and I would be particularly keen to hear from applicants interested in these opportunities:
If you're not sure what postgraduate research is like, if you're from an underrepresented group or don't have friends or families that have experienced postgraduate study, please feel free to ask any questions you might have.
I welcome applications for Masters by Research projects. Projects can focus on any area our lab currently works on; ecology, behaviour, neuroanatomy, neurodevelopment, and genomics, and I can help students design a project that fits their interests and provides a range of training experiences. Examples of past/potential MRes project titles include:
- Development and evolution of the visual brain in Heliconius butterflies.
- Co-evolution of neuronal cell-types.
- Cognitive impact of increased neuron number.
- Foraging in space.
In general Masters by research programmes are, sadly, self-funded, but student loans are available for UK citizens. The University of Bristol is, however, currently offering some funding for Masters students, particularly those from historically marginalised groups, and I would be particularly keen to hear from applicants interested in these opportunities:
- Full MRes Scholarships for Black students
- £2,000 towards PG programmes for students from underrepresented backgrounds
- Part funding for international Masters students
If you're not sure what postgraduate research is like, if you're from an underrepresented group or don't have friends or families that have experienced postgraduate study, please feel free to ask any questions you might have.
Post-docs and research fellows
In early 2025 we will shortly be advertising three post-docs in neuro-evo-devo, bioinformatics and comparative projectomics and cell morphology. Please check back later, or contact me for details.
I welcome expressions of interest and am very happy to support externally funded Fellowship applications, either by helping to develop an existing project or discussing your own ideas. See Dieter Lukas' extensive list of funding opportunities to check what you may be eligible to apply to, but here is a short list of potential targets to come to/stay in the UK:
1. Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships.
2. The Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships. Note: these require matched salary funds so are a bit tricky.
3. EU funded Marie-Curie Fellowships.
4. The Human Frontier Science Programme Postdoctoral Fellowships.
5. The Royal Society Newton International Fellowships.
6. EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships.
In early 2025 we will shortly be advertising three post-docs in neuro-evo-devo, bioinformatics and comparative projectomics and cell morphology. Please check back later, or contact me for details.
I welcome expressions of interest and am very happy to support externally funded Fellowship applications, either by helping to develop an existing project or discussing your own ideas. See Dieter Lukas' extensive list of funding opportunities to check what you may be eligible to apply to, but here is a short list of potential targets to come to/stay in the UK:
1. Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships.
2. The Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships. Note: these require matched salary funds so are a bit tricky.
3. EU funded Marie-Curie Fellowships.
4. The Human Frontier Science Programme Postdoctoral Fellowships.
5. The Royal Society Newton International Fellowships.
6. EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships.
Summer projects
I'm happy to consider hosting enthusiastic school or undergraduate projects over the summer. I'm unlikely to take on self-funded students who are not local to the University to avoid prejudicing against those who can't afford to do the same, but there are are few opportunities for funding:
1. Bristol's Widening Participation Research Summer Schools - for undergraduates from under represented groups
2. BBSRC's Research Experience Placements - for undergraduates at UK universities (deadline April)
3. Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour - undergraduate summer studentships (deadline Feb)
4. Genetics Society - undergraduate summer studentships (deadline March)
5. Nuffield Foundation Research Placements - for post-16 science students (opens October)
For further opportunities see the Royal Society of Biology's list or the Faculty of Biology's list. Bristol also runs Sutton Trust summer schools for school students wanting a taste of University life.
Please get in touch well ahead of the deadline!
I'm happy to consider hosting enthusiastic school or undergraduate projects over the summer. I'm unlikely to take on self-funded students who are not local to the University to avoid prejudicing against those who can't afford to do the same, but there are are few opportunities for funding:
1. Bristol's Widening Participation Research Summer Schools - for undergraduates from under represented groups
2. BBSRC's Research Experience Placements - for undergraduates at UK universities (deadline April)
3. Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour - undergraduate summer studentships (deadline Feb)
4. Genetics Society - undergraduate summer studentships (deadline March)
5. Nuffield Foundation Research Placements - for post-16 science students (opens October)
For further opportunities see the Royal Society of Biology's list or the Faculty of Biology's list. Bristol also runs Sutton Trust summer schools for school students wanting a taste of University life.
Please get in touch well ahead of the deadline!