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Evolution PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships
We have 68 Evolution PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships
A PhD in Evolution offers you the opportunity to conduct an extended research project into a specific area of evolution from researching how a specific characteristic has changed over generations to tracking the origin of a protein. Your project could be either formed of field work, carrying out experiments in the laboratory or a Bioinformatics project, likely working with genomics data.
What’s it like to do a PhD in Evolution?
Studying a PhD in Evolution, you’ll gain a range of skills, from programming in R or Python, using cutting edge 3D scanning and digital imaging equipment to becoming a leader in your field work.
Some typical research topics in Evolution include:
- Investigating how bacterial biofilms evolve over time
- Researching how a system e.g. vocal chords have evolved
- Analysis of genomics of a species over time
- Investigating how an environmental factor, such as social interaction affects the brain
- Studying sexual dimorphism in a given species
- Retracing the origins of a specific protein
Most PhD programmes in Evolution are proposed by the supervisor and advertised on the university website with full funding attached. However, some advertised projects require you to self-fund, which can be difficult due to additional bench fees. This funding challenge also makes proposing your own project in Evolution uncommon.
Day-to-day you’ll likely perform experiments and/or observe your species of study. If you have a Bioinformatic based project, you’ll write programmes to identify new features in the data. Regardless of your speciality, you’ll read extensively around your topic to gain inspiration for methods and discuss results with your supervisor and colleagues.
To be awarded your PhD, you’ll need to write a thesis of around 60,000 words and defend your work during a viva exam.
Entry requirements
The entry requirements for most Evolution PhD programmes involve a Masters in a subject directly related to Biology, at Merit or Distinction level. If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need to show that you have the right level of language proficiency.
PhD in Evolution funding options
The research council responsible for funding Evolution PhDs in the UK is the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). They provide fully-funded studentships including a stipend for living costs, a consumables budget for bench fees and a tuition fee waiver. Students don’t apply directly to the BBSRC, you apply for advertised projects with this funding attached.
It’s uncommon for Evolution PhD students to be ‘self-funded’ due to the additional bench fees. However, if you were planning to fund yourself it might be achievable (depending on your project) through the UK government’s PhD loan and part-time work.
PhD Opportunity - Evolution of ecological and species diversity in freshwater fishes
'TO APPLY, PLEASE CLICK INSTITUTION WEBSITE'. Project description. Ecological, morphological and evolutionary diversification among sympatric individuals often reflects divergent selective pressures along environmental gradients. Read more
PhD Opportunity - Novel approaches to understand the relationship between environmental change and biodiversity in space and time
'TO APPLY, PLEASE CLICK INSTITUTION WEBSITE'. Outline. Preventing the irreversible loss of biodiversity while supporting human livelihoods is one of the greatest contemporary challenges. Read more
PhD Opportunity - Understanding virus-virus interactions: from cells to populations
'TO APPLY, PLEASE CLICK INSTITUTION WEBSITE'. Background and aims. Respiratory viral infections, including seasonal epidemics and pandemics, cause a major disease burden. Read more
PhD Opportunity - Barriers to influenza virus cross-species transmission
'TO APPLY, PLEASE CLICK INSTITUTION WEBSITE'. Project outline: Influenza A viruses (IAV) are the cause of a major global health burden in humans and animals. Read more
Evaluating the effectiveness of phylogenetics for infectious disease control
Phylogenetic analysis provides a tool to quantify infectious disease dynamics by leveraging the information contained in genetic sequence data to infer epidemic spread. Read more
The rise of vertebrate necks: how salamanders use the spine in feeding
Background and Motivation. The tetrapod neck is a major evolutionary transformation critical for the evolution of terrestrial vertebrates (tetrapods) from aquatic fishes. Read more
GW4 BioMed2 MRC DTP PhD project: Environmental and genetic determinants of parasite transmission
This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the GW4 BioMed2 MRC Doctoral Training Partnership which is offering up to 21 studentships for entry in September 2025. Read more
ACCE DTP Studentship - Nature’s laboratories: allometric constraint and the evolution of island vertebrates
About the Project. The ACCE DTP is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith or religious belief, pregnancy or maternity, parental or caring responsibilities or career pathway to date. Read more
Last chance to apply
Unlocking the role of environmental cues in phenological change
Are you an ecologist with a strong quantitative background, an interest in responses to climate change, prediction, and modelling? Then this project might be for you!. Read more
Breeding Better Biocontrols: Genomic approaches for strain improvement of hyphal-parasitic fungi
Fungal pathogens are responsible for up to 16% of global crop losses, acting both pre-harvest and post-harvest as well as through mycotoxin contamination. Read more
The evolution of antibiotic tolerant Staphylococcus aureus cell types during long term colonisation developing into diabetes foot infection.
CONTEXT. Overview of the project. Patients with diabetes have a high risk of a foot ulcer or foot infection. These often re-occur and become chronic. Read more
RNA-catalyzed RNA synthesis and replication
A critical event in the origin of life is thought to have been the emergence of an RNA molecule capable of self-replication as well as mutation, and hence evolution towards ever more efficient replication. Read more
How did species originate, evolve and go extinct across the vertebrate tree of life?
Project Overview. The tree of life underpins our understanding of all aspects of biodiversity past, present and future. Not only does it describe how species are related to each other, but it also documents the evolutionary history of life on Earth. Read more
Molecular basis and ecological significance of Saccharomyces wine yeast interactions with microbes, plants and insects
This research involving Saccharomyces cerevisiae provides an excellent training that will equip the graduate with highly transferable skills, relevant in other ‘yeast’ labs or biological systems. Read more
Somatic evolution in plants
Fixed term contract for 3 years, commencing January 2025. Bursary of £19,237 per annum and a full fee-waiver for UK/International tuition fees. Read more