PhD in Evolution and Behaviour: exploring the connection between how organisms have evolved and how they behave

The connection between how organisms have evolved and how they behave is a fundamental principle of biology. It can show us why organisms are the way they are, and answer deep questions about the diversity of life on earth. We study how organisms have adapted to their environments, how new species form, and why animals behave the way that they do.

Much of our work addresses real-world challenges such as understanding how climatic and other manmade changes affect how organisms adapt and evolve to their environment. We work across taxonomic groups including microbes, plants, invertebrates, fish, mammals and birds. We use both experimental evolution approaches and intensive field-based research. A particular strength is DNA sequence-based analysis, which is often used in tandem with more traditional approaches.

The Department of Animal and Plant Sciences is home to world experts in sexual selection and sexual conflict, ecological immunity, cooperative behaviour, population genetics, the evolutionary genomics of adaptation and evolutionary developmental biology. The department also hosts the NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, which trains researchers in state-of-the-art molecular genetics techniques and is one of the largest Molecular Ecology laboratories in the UK.

Ours is a truly international environment, in the heart of one of the best student cities in the UK. Our research involves collaborations with colleagues in the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. Our postgraduate community is vibrant and diverse and we currently have over 100 graduate students carrying out PhD research, including numerous international students. We frequently host overseas staff and researchers attracted by the department’s and Sheffield’s outstanding reputation for high quality research and training.

Science Graduate School
As a PhD student in one of the science departments at the University of Sheffield, you’ll be part of the Science Graduate School. You’ll get access to training opportunities designed to support your career development by helping you gain professional skills that are essential in all areas of science. You’ll be able to learn how to recognise good research and research behaviour, improve your communication abilities and experience the breadth of technologies that are used in academia, industry and many related careers. Visit http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/sgs to learn more.