Application Deadline: 08 January 2026
Details
Project Enquiries: windsorfm@cardiff.ac.uk
Webpage: https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/windsorfm
Project aims and methods:
Pond ecosystems are biodiverse and contribute significantly to society through ecosystem service provision. Despite the fact we know these systems are critical for humans and nature, freshwater research, policy, and conservation have focused on other water bodies.
This project will answer the following questions: (i) Can molecular tools identify the effects of anthropogenic stressors on pondscapes? (ii) How can we conserve and restore pondscapes? (iii) How are pondscapes best managed to maximise ecosystem health and service provision? Through this work, the student will contribute to the development of an ecosystem health assessment tool – placing ponds on the radar of international freshwater research and policy.
Students will have licence to drive research in any direction; for example nutritional or foraging ecology, network ecology, omics approaches, or any other areas of expertise or interest in or around ponds.
Bespoke training in eDNA and ecological approaches will be provided by the supervisory group, with expertise in: fieldwork, taxonomy, molecular techniques, bioinformatics, network analysis and ecological modelling.
The project is an exciting collaboration across Cardiff University, UKCEH, Natural England and Newcastle University, combining expertise on freshwater systems, molecular tools, community and foraging ecology, as well as environmental monitoring and policy.
Project CASE partner:
Natural England will provide in-kind provision (time for meetings and data access).
Lead Institution: Cardiff
Lead Supervisor: Fredric Windsor, Cardiff, School of Biosciences
Co-Supervisor: Daniel Read, UKCEH, Environmental Pressures & Responses Scientific Area
Co-Supervisor: Jordan Cuff, Newcastle University, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Co-supervisor: Katie Clark, Natural England
Useful recruitment links:
For information relating to the research project please contact the lead Supervisor via:
How to apply to Cardiff University:
Please ensure that at the time of making the application, you upload the ‘GW4 + DLTP Personal Statement’ in place of the Cardiff University Personal Statement/cover letter. Please email BIOSI-PG@cardiff.ac.uk prior to starting your online application for a copy of the statement which you would then complete and upload. Also, at the point of making an application please complete the ‘DLTP PhD applicants questionnaire’ at the following link https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/nercdtp/gw4-dltp-survey-applicants-for-phds-2026-final
Applications can be made using the following link: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/programmes/programme/biosciences-phd-mphil-md Use the black boxes on the right hand side and select ‘Doctor of Philosophy’, and the start date of ’01/10/2026′. If you have studied with us before, or made a previous application, please use the same login details and application number.
Please ensure that you type in the project title, the lead supervisor and the source of funding as GW4+ Doctoral Landscape Training Partnerships (DLTP).
The application deadline is Thursday 8 January 2026 at 2359 GMT
English language requirement:
The university minimum requirement for English language IELTS (Academic) with 6.5 overall and a minimum of 6.5 in all subskills. We accept a variety of English language tests and academic qualifications for entry and have published a list of acceptable equivalents to GCSE and IELTS.
Funding Notes
Funding:
Students will receive a stipend for 3.5 years, payment of their university tuition fees, a Research and Training and Support Grant (RTSG) of £9,000 and a conference budget of £2,000. A training budget of £1,000 is for each student to undertake specialist training relating to their specialist area of research and career development and to pay for travel and accommodation. The stipend for 2026/27 will be the amount for 2025/26 (£20,780 p.a.) plus an annual inflation adjustment.
The GW4 partners agreed to cover the difference between home and international tuition fees. Therefore, international candidates will not be expected to cover this cost and will be fully funded but will be required to cover the cost of their student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD.
