Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment (ACCE) DTP

Partners: University of Liverpool, Sheffield and York, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) and Natural History Museum (NHM)

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. We understand that a student’s potential can be shown in many ways and we strive to recruit students from all backgrounds, and support them on their scientific journey.

Various support and guidance on applying for an ACCE DTP studentship can be found at accedtp.ac.uk, in the ‘prospective applicants’ tab.

This NERC funded Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) brings together the best in environmental, ecological and evolutionary research across the Universities of Liverpool, Sheffield, York, the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and the Natural History Museum.

The ACCE DTP PhD programme offers projects aligned with the grand challenges in environmental research under four foci:

1. Securing ecosystems and their natural capital;
2. Predicting and mitigating impacts of environmental change;
3. Understanding the dynamics of biodiversity;
4. Investigating mechanisms of evolutionary change: genes to communities.

This year we are offering up to 24 competition funded PhDs. Research projects can be found here.

Funding

Studentships are fully funded for 3.5 years. The studentships cover: (i) an annual tax-free stipend at the standard Research Council rate (£18,622 for 2023/24; TBC for 2024/25), (ii) a research support and training grant, and (iii) tuition fees at the UK rate.

The DTP partners have various schemes which allow international students to join the DTP but only be required to pay home fees. Home fees are already covered in the UKRI funding, so successful international candidates do not need to find any additional funding for fees.

All ACCE PhDs are available as part-time or full-time, with part-time being a minimum of 50% of full-time. Please discuss potential part-time arrangements with the primary supervisor before applying to the programme.

Key dates

• Application deadline – Monday 8^th January 2024.
• Interviews will take place week commencing 19^th February 2024.
• NERC Universal Acceptance Date – Wednesday 13^th March 2024.

Eligibility

ACCE studentships are available to both UK and international applicants. Residency rules apply. Due to UKRI funding regulations we can only offer up to 30% of our studentships to international applicants. Further information about eligibility can be found on the UKRI webpages.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a 1st or 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualifications). We are happy to consider applications from candidates with lower than a 2:1 award where excellence is demonstrated in other ways on a case-by-case basis, dependent upon approval from the host institution. The interdisciplinary nature of this programme means that we welcome applications from students with backgrounds in any relevant subject that provides the necessary skills, knowledge and experience for the DTP.

Closing date for applications: Monday 8^th January 2024