This project will be funded by The States of Jersey Department of Environment. Funding is available to cover Home/EU tuition fees plus stipend. All other research costs should be met via independent funding.
MSc by Research: Island-wide study of Jersey’s pheasant population
1 year
The School and the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, in collaboration with the States of Jersey Department of Environment is offering an exciting MSc by Research opportunity for a motivated graduate. This research project aims to study the status and impacts of the free-living population of common pheasants Phasianus colchicus on Jersey, British Isles. The project will focus on a population assessment of pheasants island-wide and evaluate the impact pheasants have on the agriculture industry and other wildlife. These issues will be addressed through a combination of field surveys and habitat use, stomach analysis and consultation with relevant stakeholders. This project will be based at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology’s conservation genetics laboratory, led by Dr. Jim Groombridge, with periods in Jersey for sampling/fieldwork.
Application deadline: Friday 11th September 2015
Start Date: September 2015 or soon after.
Supervisors: Dr. Jim Groombridge (DICE), Simon Tolington (DICE) and Nina Cornish (Department of Environment)
Academic requirements: Applicants should have a First or Second Class UK honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline such as conservation and/or wildlife disease. Knowledge/experience of molecular laboratory techniques would be advantageous.
Funding: Available funding will cover the tuition fees and stipend (at the UK/EU rate only) for this 1-year project. Other funding will be required to cover all laboratory and fieldwork costs.
How to apply: Please send a CV (maximum 2-pages) and a covering letter (maximum two pages) by email to Simon Tollington (s.j.tollington@kent.ac.uk) on or before the closing date. Interviews will be held at DICE in September 2015, with a view to the successful applicant starting as soon after as possible.