Improving the design of the Tuley tube for improved sapling growth and quality

Aberystwyth University are seeking to recruit a 1-year MPhil to work on a project entitled:
Improving the design of the Tuley tube for improved sapling growth and quality

The treeshelter was invented at the Forestry Commission's research station at Alice Holt by Graham
Tuley in 1979. Immediately after the discovery, entrepreneurs took on to produce treeshelters at
industrial scale. Research institutions in UK, Australia, USA, Canada confirmed the benefits of the
treeshelters and helped foresters, farmers, landscapers, etc. achieve their goals.

Growth of trees and vines within a treeshelter are driven by photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis.
The various factors that affect these biological processes included light transmission, CO2 feed
through ventilation, temperature and humidity. Saplings appear to grow well under such contained
conditions showing increased height and improved survival. The proposed research project will
examine this simple technology to produce a system that will produce large saplings with wide stem
girths, ample branching and healthy root growth.

The successful student will be working in partnership with Fiberweb, producers of the Tubex
treeshelter.

The prospective applicant should have a minimum of a 1st or good 2:1 in a relevant degree, and be
available to take up the studentship by 1 July 2013. The prospective applicant should also not hold or
currently be working towards a qualification at Master’s Degree level or higher. The project is partfunded
by the European Social Fund (ESF) through the European Union’s Convergence programme
administered by the Welsh Government. KESS scholarships are collaborative awards with external
partners. (Applicants need only apply, they do not need to search for partners.)

To apply, please submit the following to the Postgraduate Admissions Office (address below) by 24
May 2013:

1. A completed Research Programme Application Form, two references. Application and reference
forms may be downloaded from http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/postgrad/howtoapply/.

2. A completed KESS application form (put the reference number AU50004 in the top right hand box of
the application form) and an up-to-date CV. KESS application forms are available to download at the
link below.
www.aber.ac.uk/en/ccs/staff-students/funding/kess/
3. A Personal Statement of up to 1,000 words where you expand on your experience and interests and
describe why you are a good candidate for this research studentship. Please refer to the Project

Description.

Value of Award: A stipend of £10,130. Each scholarship has an additional budget for travel,
equipment/consumables and training to support your research. KESS Scholarship holders do not pay
fees.

Length: Full-time for 1 year. (Theses must be submitted 3 months after the funded one year study
period.)

Training: The achievement of a Postgraduate Skills Development Award (PSDA) is compulsory for each
KESS scholar (The PSDA is based on a 30 credit award, which is an additional award to the MPhil).

Eligibility: To be eligible to apply for a KESS award, you must be resident, upon application, in the

Convergence Area of Wales and you must be able to take paid employment in the Convergence area
on completion of the scholarship.



Convergence area means the following counties: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot
Pembrokeshire, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea,Torfaen