Creating a biodiversity baseline for the University of Kent’s Canterbury Campus_REP2025

Creating a biodiversity baseline for the University of Kent’s Canterbury Campus_REP2025

Lead Supervisor:
Dr Laura Kor and Dr Dave Seaman

Locations:
University of Kent

Duration:
6 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Biology, Conservation, Ecology, Geography

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Project background

Covering an area of 300 acres (1.2km2), the University of Kent (UoK) Canterbury Campus contains a mosaic of woodland and grassland habitats alongside university facilities and horticultural areas. The Campus is known to support almost 1,000 species of flora and fauna, forming part of a wider landscape of importance for biodiversity, including the East Blean Woods National Nature Reserve.

A wide range of biodiversity surveys have been undertaken on the Canterbury Campus to date, ranging from a popular annual Biobliz event for the public, to professional ecological assessments. However, data are dispersed and exist in different formats, while no underlying habitat basemap for the Campus exists. The UoK’s Biodiversity Working Group (BWG) is progressing towards a pledge for Kent to become a Nature Positive University, with a key step in this process being the need for a comprehensive biodiversity baseline.

The aim of this NERC Research Experience Placement (REP) will be to support the BWG in creating a biodiversity baseline for the Canterbury Campus. This will involve:

·         Gathering all existing biodiversity datasets and designing a suitable system for their collation and management.

·         Supporting the Innovation Team in undertaking woodland habitat surveys and condition assessments as part of creating a habitat basemap for Campus.

·         Translating collated data into a format of relevance to inform a Nature Positive Universities pledge.

Work will be supervised by Fellows on the DICE Innovation Team and involve close collaboration with other members of the BWG, who include staff from the UoK’s Sustainability and Grounds Teams. This will give the REP student an understanding of how biodiversity data can feed into organisational decision-making and practical habitat management. Outcomes will be important in enabling the UoK in making a Nature Positive Pledge, thereby contributing to global goals to halt and reverse biodiversity loss to put nature on a path to recovery.

 

Eligibilty criteria

Students must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed below to apply for a REP:

  • Be undertaking their first undergraduate degree studies (or integrated Masters) – note that students in in their final year who have graduated and no longer have student status at the time the placement starts are not eligible;
  • Be eligible for subsequent NERC PhD funding (please see the relevant text in the Terms and conditions for training funding and associated guidance for further information); and
  • have the right to work in the UK.

 

Students from outside the UK who do not already have right to work in the UK, should not apply.

How to apply

The deadline for applications will be 12:00 on Monday 19 May 2025.  

In order to be considered for a placement, please apply to aries.dtp@uea.ac.uk providing the following:

  • A supporting statement explaining your motivation for applying for this project. Please include answers to the following questions:
    • which project are you applying for?
    • why have you applied for this project (e.g. what interested you about this project, what in particular made you want to undertake this research)?
    • what do you hope to achieve by undertaking this placement (e.g. is it for experience, to gain skills, to develop your interests)?
    • what skills do you have that make you an ideal candidate for this placement (e.g. what skills have you developed during your degree that might apply)?
    • what do you hope to do when you complete your degree (e.g. have you considered a working in scientific research in the future, or is this your first experience)?
  • A recent CV
  • A reference from your personal tutor (please ask your tutor to send this to us directly)
  • An interim transcript if available
  • Please also complete the online EDI form (this form is a mandatory part of the application process, but contains ‘prefer not to say’ options for all questions asked)
Selection process

·  Applications are screened for eligibility

·  Applications are forwarded to supervisors (the EDI form is not included)

·  Supervisors shortlist candidates and interview for the placement.

Candidates will be scored according to the following criteria:

  • Fit to project (e.g. your current skills, area of study, interests)
  • Enthusiasm for environmental research (e.g. what you hope to achieve through undertaking this placement, why you chose this project in particular)
  • Evidence of suitability to undertake a research placement (e.g. evidence from your tutor reference, transcript, and CV that you are an engaged student)

Successful candidates will be informed by Friday 13th June 2025