Research Experience Placements

Research Experience Placements

The NERC Research Experience Placement (REP) scheme aims to address both thematic skills gaps and demographic and diversity-related challenges in the environmental sciences by offering funding to support paid summer placements for undergraduate students, during which they will carry out research projects within the scope of the environmental sciences. Applications for REPs taking place in summer 2026 are now open.

What is a REP like?

Our previous REP students have all really enjoyed their time with us, and found the experience of working in a real research environment on current research projects to be valuable in thinking about their next steps:

“In addition to the lab research, I was given the opportunity to attend a diverse set of talks presented by speakers from all over the world, and doing original research in different areas of Biology. As part of the REP, I was also able to attend the DTP residential summer school, allowing me to meet first year PhD students who were well into their projects, and hear first-hand about their experiences.”

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REPS

Linking plant physiology and evolution: exploring the leaf economics spectrum REP 2026

Lead Supervisors:
John Ferguson

Locations:
University of Essex

Duration:
10 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Biology, Botany, Ecology, Environmental Science, Plant Science, Related disciplines with an interest in plant physiology and ecological research

Scientific Background This project will investigate how evolutionary history shapes variation in the leaf economics spectrum (LES), a central framework...

Ecology and evolution of plant pathogens in the wild REP 2026

Lead Supervisors:
Mark McMullan

Locations:
Earlham Institute

Duration:
8 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Biology, or a related subject

The McMullan team study the co-evolution of plants and their pathogens, with a particular focus on wild crop relatives (non-domesticated...

What drives shipping vessels to slow down for whales? REP 2026

Lead Supervisors:
Rachel Seary

Locations:
University of Kent

Duration:
8 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Biology, Conservation, Ecology, Environmental Science, Geography, Marine Biology

Scientific Background Collisions between vessels and whales (shipstrikes) are one of the main threats to whale populations globally and are...

Automated isotope ratio mass-spectrometric analysis of dissolved oxygen REP 2026

Lead Supervisors:
Jan Kaiser

Locations:
University of East Anglia

Duration:
6-10 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Natural Sciences, Physics

Scientific Background Measurements of oxygen-to-argon ratios and oxygen isotope ratios in dissolved oxygen (O2) provide powerful constraints on marine net...

Sediment and carbon transport during tsunami transport in the South Sandwich Islands REP 2026

Lead Supervisors:
Jenny Gales, Jodie Fisher, Sarah Boulton

Locations:
University of Plymouth

Duration:
6 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Environmental Geosciences, Geology, Physical Geography and Geology

Scientific Background One of the largest ever recorded earthquakes in the South Atlantic (Mw 8.2) occurred in the South Sandwich...

Impacts of Climate Change on Meteorite Preservation REP 2026

Lead Supervisors:
Queenie Chan

Locations:
Royal Holloway University of London

Duration:
6 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics

Scientific Background Freshly fallen meteorites provide valuable information about the history and evolution of our Solar System. Their rapid recovery...

Winds and Waves in the Alpine Mountains REP 2026

Lead Supervisors:
Andrew Orr

Locations:
British Antarctic Survey

Duration:
8 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Mathematics, Meteorology, Physics, Similar quantitative science

Scientific Background Mountains and hills (or “orography”) have a substantial effect on the atmospheric circulation, including both local weather systems...

Orographic flow modelling over the Alps REP 2026

Lead Supervisors:
Ian Renfrew

Locations:
University of East Anglia

Duration:
8 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Meteorology, Physics

Scientific Background The international TEAMx programme presents the opportunity for a step-change in accurately simulating and forecasting orographic flows (weather...

Understanding the evolution of how plants perceive changes in the environment REP 2026

Lead Supervisors:
Ben Miller

Locations:
University of East Anglia

Duration:
8 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences

Scientific Background Plants need to respond to the environment to adapt and grow. Plants modify the concentration of calcium ions...

Understanding the impacts of altering the light field for ice-associated phytoplankton REP 2026

Lead Supervisors:
Flo Atherden, Clara Manno

Locations:
British Antarctic Survey

Duration:
6-10 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Biology, Ecology, Marine Biology

Scientific Background The polar regions are unique environments, regulating global climate whilst experiencing the fastest rate of climate change on...