2025 E3 Understanding and Optimising Local Nature Recovery Networks in England

The UK Government has set ambitious biodiversity and nature recovery targets to meet national and international conservation commitments. A key element of achieving these targets in England is the implementation of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS). Each county is currently developing their own LNRS based on nationally developed guidelines, working with a wide range of local stakeholders to produce a list of biodiversity priorities and map the most suitable locations for conservation, restoration and habitat creation. These outputs will likely play a major role in county-level spatial planning. However, their success also depends on the extent to which these LNRSs combine to form regional networks and how they contribute to, or clash with, national targets for biodiversity, tree planting, food security and infrastructure.

Eligibility Criteria for 2025 E3 Understanding and Optimising Local Nature Recovery Networks in England

Eligible candidates must:

1. Hold a 1 or 2.1 Bachelor's degree or, if applicable, a taught Master's degree at merit or distinction or MSc by Research. The Bachelor’s degree should be in conservation, ecology or environmental sciences. Please be aware that securing a PhD scholarship tends to be a competitive process, with most applicants holding a Master’s degree.
2. Be a highly motivated student interested in producing high-impact, policy-relevant research. The candidate should have strong analytical skills and, ideally, GIS expertise.
3. Provide a CV. On the CV, please list the degree modules you have studied and provide the grade you were awarded for each one. Please also provide the overall grade you were awarded for your degree(s).
4. Provide a covering letter, which outlines why you are interested in the PhD, no more than two A4 pages long. Any statement exceeding this limit will not be accepted.
5. Provide academic references in support of your application; these will be requested if you are successful through the shortlisting process.
6. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by members of the supervisory team. The interview questions will be given to shortlisted candidates in advance.
7. Be able to start the PhD programme in Sept. 2025.

Further details

Title: Understanding and optimising local nature recovery networks in England

School of PhD registration: Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, within the School of Natural Sciences

PhD degree award: PhD in Biodiversity Management

DICE primary supervisor name: Professor Bob Smith

Primary supervisor email: r.j.smith@kent.ac.uk

DICE secondary supervisor name: Professor Zoe Davies

Secondary supervisor email: z.g.davies@kent.ac.uk

Benefits of 2025 E3 Understanding and Optimising Local Nature Recovery Networks in England

The PhD scholarship includes an annual stipend (equivalent to the Research Councils UK National Minimum Doctoral Stipend; the 2025/26 rate is £20,780, which is not taxed income). Tuition fees will be covered at the home student rate only. The PhD scholarship comes with a £10,000 research and training fund.

How to Apply

Please apply by sending your covering letter and CV to ssfn@kent.ac.uk by Sunday, 11th May 2025, at 23:55 BST. For informal inquiries about the project, please contact the primary supervisor directly via email, as listed above.

For more details, visit University of Kent Scholarship webpage

Application deadline:

May 11th, 2025

Application Link(s)

• Apply for 2025 E3 Understanding and Optimising Local Nature Recovery Networks in England