The University of Bath is inviting applications for this PhD opportunity commencing in October 2021. The successful student will be based at the Milner Centre for Evolution, a unique, cross-faculty research centre bridging biology, health and education.
Funding is available to candidates who qualify for ‘Home’ fee status only. Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the rules governing fee status have changed and, therefore, candidates from the EU/EEA are advised to check their eligibility before applying. Please see the Funding Eligibility section below.
Death is certain for all animals but when death will arrive, how gradual or steep the preceding decline or ageing ill be varies from one species to another and even between the sexes. Although several genes and processes have been proposed and or proven as contributors to ageing and lifespan we still have a relatively poor understanding of the variables and genomic features that explain between species and between sexes variation in maximum lifespan and life expectancy among animals. In this project you will use comparative methods to investigate the role of different genomic variables in explaining the evolution and diversity in longevity and ageing between species and sexes. For this, you will use state of the art bioinformatics and comparative methods and take advantage of great genomic resources in avian genomics through the B10k avian genomics consortium and the Species360 organisation which holds lifespan and health records for thousands of vertebrate species.
You will join an established group in evolutionary and comparative genomics and will be supervised by a team with expertise in all relevant areas of the project and extensive experience in mentoring and supervising PhD students. You will further benefit from interacting with a vibrant community in genomics in evolution at the Milner Centre and a wide network of collaborators of the supervisory team.
Candidate Requirements:
We require a First Class or good Upper Second Class Honours degree (or the equivalent). A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.
Non-UK applicants must meet our English language entry requirement.
Enquiries and Applications:
Candidates are encouraged to discuss the project directly with Dr Araxi Urrutia ([Email Address Removed]) before applying.
Formal applications should be made via the University of Bath’s online application form.
On the application form, quote ‘Evolution Education Trust’ in the Finance section and the supervisor’s name and project title in the ‘Your research interests’ section. If applying for more than one project, quote the projects in order of preference and upload a separate personal statement relevant to each one.
Your application must be complete when you submit it to us. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. Please ensure you have completed all fields on the application form and supplied the contact details of TWO referees willing to provide us with a reference when requested (one must be from your most recent place of study). Also, you should ensure that you have uploaded all the required documents. See our website for more information.
Interviews will take place on Monday 19 April 2021.
Funding Eligibility:
In order to be considered for a studentship, you must qualify as a ‘Home’ student. In determining ‘Home’ student status, we follow the UK government’s fee regulations which, when available, will be explained on the UKCISA website. Although the fee regulations for 2021/22 have not yet been published, we expect (subject to confirmation) the main categories of students generally eligible for ‘Home’ fee status will be:
- UK nationals (who have lived in the UK, EU, EEA or Switzerland continuously since September 2018)
- Irish nationals (who have lived in the UK or Ireland continuously since September 2018)
- EU/EEA applicants with settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme (who have lived in the UK continuously since September 2018)
- EU/EEA applicants with pre-settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme (who have lived in the UK, EU, EEA, Switzerland or Gibraltar continuously since September 2018)
- Applicants with indefinite leave to enter/remain in the UK (who have been resident in the UK continuously since September 2018)
EU/EEA citizens who live outside the UK are unlikely to be eligible for ‘Home’ fees and funding.
Additional information may be found on our fee status guidance webpage and on the GOV.UK website.
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