ecology phd salary uk

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Ecology and environmental management PhD

As a PhD student in Ecology and environmental management at the University of Brighton, you will join a team of experts whose research informs real world change locally, nationally and globally.

Our interests feed the university's research Centre for Aquatic Environments, one of the university’s Centres of Research and Enterprise Excellence (COREs), and the Environment and Public Health Research and Enterprise Group (REG), offering opportunities for supervision across a wide range of interdisciplinary approaches to ecology, environment, sustainability and environmental pollution.

From investigating interactions between large mammals and human populations, to developing new remote sensing approaches to assess global forest biomass, our ecology and environmental management staff and PhD students are at the forefront of global research challenges. We are also working to identify the impacts of climate change and invasive species on global wetlands, and assessing the factors that influence the spread of zoonotic disease.

The majority of our work has real-world application. Data generated by researchers in our Centre for Aquatic Environments is being used, for example, to assess the impact of run-of-river hydroelectric schemes on freshwater ecosystems, and to develop suitable conservation strategies for the protection and reintroduction of water voles across the UK.

Our Ecology and environmental management PhD students have gone on to a variety of different roles following the successful completion of their research. These include academic posts as lecturers and postdoctoral research assistants at Brighton and elsewhere, plus research roles in, for example, the conservation and water industries. Many have gone on to management positions in related areas such as environmental consultancy.

Apply to 'environment' in the applicant portal

Key information

As an Ecology and environmental management PhD student at Brighton, you will

• benefit from a supervisory team comprising two or three members of academic staff. Depending on your research specialism you may also have an additional supervisor from another school, another research institution, or an external partner from government or industry.
• be provided with desk space and access to a desktop PC, either in one of the postgraduate offices on the 6 th floor of the award-winning Cockcroft Building, or within the adjacent Huxley Building.
• benefit from access to a range of electronic resources via the University’s Online Library, as well as to the physical book and journal collections housed within the Aldrich Library and other campus libraries.
• be able to use various state-of-the-art research facilities on the Moulsecoomb site, including specialist microbial and water quality laboratories, hydraulic flumes, an experimental river basin, a water efficiency laboratory, geochemical and geotechnical laboratories, microscopy laboratories (optical and scanning electron microscopes), molecular ecology laboratories, ecology laboratory and greenhouses, as well as a large array of field equipment, including state-of-the art drones. All of these facilities are supported by a team of dedicated laboratory and workshop technicians.

Academic environment

Research in ecology and environment draws in particular on the close collaborative relationship between staff across the School of Applied Sciences, relationships that bolster collaborative practice and revelatory interdisciplinarity. PhDs with a focus on aquatic ecologies will join our centre for research excellence, the Centre for Aquatic Environments , which provides an active network of research expertise with connections across the globe.

Based on the university’s Moulsecoomb Campus the School of Applied Sciences addresses key environmental and resource issues, and delivers translational research with local, regional and international benefits. Staff expertise relevant to ecology and environmental management spans a range of disciplines, including archaeology, biology, ecology, environmental genetics, environmental science, human and physical geography, and geology.

PhD students take an active role in a range of intellectual and social activities within the school. All postgraduate students working on ecology and environmental management topics are integrated into one or more of our Centres for Research and Enterprise Excellence or our Research and Enterprise Groups , which provide you with opportunities to present ‘work in progress’ and network with other researchers.

We provide PhD students with opportunities to work across the spectrum of ecology and environmental management, including research which straddles traditional disciplinary boundaries into, for example, remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS). We believe that this interdisciplinary focus provides our students with an appreciation of real-world problems, and ensures that they are highly employable.

The Brighton Doctoral College offer a training programme for postgraduate researchers, covering research methods and transferable (including employability) skills. Attendance at appropriate modules within this programme is encouraged, as is contribution to the Schools’ various seminar series. Academic and technical staff also provide more subject-specific training.

Researchers within the School of Applied Sciences are engaged in work across a wide range of topic areas, and thus your PhD research could pursue interests in almost any area of ecology and environmental management. Areas in which we are particularly interested in supervising include:

• Human impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity, including climate change and invasive species
• Management of freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems
• Marine, freshwater and wetland ecosystems
• Microbiology and zoonotic disease
• Molecular ecology and conservation biology
• Species ecology, interactions and behaviour
• Applications of remote sensing and GIS for disease movement, landscape/environmental management and modelling
• Air quality management
• Community engagement and training
• Waste management
• Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)

More detail about research themes in aquatic ecology is provided under the Centre for Aquatic Environments

Some of our supervisors

Dr matthew adams.

Dr Adams supervises PhD students addressing a range of topics including mental health and distress, social and cultural identity, critical psychologies of climate change, climate activism, nature-connection, Anthropocene studies, nature-based interventions, human-animal relations and posthumanities. He is especially interested in supervising students adopting qualitative methodological and critical theoretical approaches. Interdisciplinary projects are especially welcome. 

Dr Maureen Berg

I am keen to supervise projects that examine the effects of management and changing abiotic and biotic conditions on plant community, functional traits, physiology and multitrophic diversity. I am keen to use a range of novel approaches such as genomics, remote sensing, drones and red edge sensor camera.  Projects that I have supervised include 

• Extreme climate events and floodplain grassland plant communities: linking resilience to functional diversity (PhD)
• Understanding the demographics and genetic patterns of water voles in human modified landscapes (PhD)
• Influence of the distribution of green urban spaces on the cooling effect (MRes)

Dr Heidi Burgess

For both MRes and PhD, I am particularly interested in supervising projects in the area of  intertidal, estuarine and riverine water / sediment interaction and climate. Examples of applications could include:

• Quantifying the impact that different types of Nature Based Solutions have on Riverine Flood Management.
• The impact that drainage systems have on the development of Managed Realignment sites and the colonisation by intertidal flora.
• How mycelium develops in newly inundated intertidal wetlands.
• Furthering the understanding into the processes of how terrestrial soil transforms into intertidal sediment when inundated by saline water.
• The impact of Coastal Managed and Managed Realignment design has on fish habitats and how engineering could be used to increase habitat suitability, impacting positively on fish stocks. (see: - MR Fish Geomorphology (ICECM 2019) (brighton.ac.uk))
• The impact of changing weather patterns on intertidal environments.
• Projects related to the CHASM project , particularly the sediment and hydro elements.

Along with any project which brings together the following elements: Natural Flood Management, habitat creation, eco-system services, impact of sea-level rise and impact on health and wellbeing.

Dr Neil Crooks

I am keen to supervise projects that examine any aspect of anthropogenic impact on the physiology, morphology and behaviour of aquatic organisms. Be that chemical or physical pollutants or barriers to migration. I am especially interested in the fisheries management aspects of this and how best to consider mitigation. Projects I have supervised are varied and range from behavioural observations of captive fish species, to microplastic ingestion of the mussel (Mytilus edulis) and the velvet swimming crab (Necora puber). In addition I am interested in aspects of aquaculture and how best to improve the sustainability of feeds. I also have an interest in the welfare of cultured individuals and how to improve habitats whilst being reared.

Example projects that I supervise include the following:

Microplastic pollution within Chichester Harbour (MRes)

Selective breeding of marine copepods (MRes)

Trophic transfer of microplastics in marine invertebrates (MRes).

Does watercress farming impact fish communities (PhD)

The impacts of sewage treatment effluents on the river shrimp Gammarus pulex (PhD).

The effects of simvastatin on the development and behaviour of early life stages of Danio rerio (Undergraduate)

Microplastic ingestion of marine copepods (Undergraduate)

The presence of microplastic fibres in the stomach of the Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) (Undergraduate)

The effects of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide on fish development and behaviour (Undergraduate).

The influence of aquarium visitors on captive elasmobranchs (Undergraduate).

Sexual dimorphism of the integument of sharks (Undergraduate).

Prof James Ebdon

To date I have overseen the supervision, career development and successful completion of 12 doctoral students from the UK, Italy, Portugal, Cameroon, Nigeria, Brazil and India. These PhD's have covered a range of topics such as 'Bacteriophages as Surrogates of Viral Pathogens in Wastewater Treatment Systems (Dias 2016)', Ecological Characteristics of the Enterococcal Surface Protein (esp) gene with reference to microbial source tracking (Yaliwal 2014); Low-cost physico-chemical disinfection of human excreta in emergency settings (Sozzi 2015); Bacteriophages as Indicators of Human Enteric Viruses in Mussels (Da Silva 2013); and UV Radiation Response of Bacteriophages of Human-specific Bacteroides (Diston, 2010) .

I am currently supervising a water industry-funded PhD student who is using cutting-edge source apportionment approaches to investigate drivers of pollution in Chichester, Langstone and Pagham harbours (S. England) and have just finished supervising a PhD on Pollution, plastics and plumes; understanding the behaviour of microplastics in aquatic sediments of the R. Thames catchment.

I'm keen to supervise postgraduate research (MRes/MPhil/PhDs) in the following areas: development and application of low-cost and/or rapid water quality monitoring tools; behaviour of micro-contaminants (particularly viruses) within the environment and impacts on human health; understanding environmental interactions of emerging contaminants; water and sanitation within low-income and/or emergency settings.

According to French Physiologist Claude Bernard - "The science of life is a superb and dazzlingly lighted hall which may be reached only by passing through a long and ghastly kitchen." Anyone who has undertaken a doctoral degree is likely to agree with this analogy (at least at some point during their journey). As a PhD supervisor, I see my role as someone who can potentially make the kitchen a little less ghastly, or the journey slightly less arduous. I strive to provide a highly connected, supportive, nurturing international research environment with the Environment and Public Health Research and Enterprise Group.

I am currently supervising a further 3 PhD candidates. My PhD students have originated from an equally diverse range of disciplines including Fisheries Engineering, Environmental Science, Biology, Biomolecular Science, Microbiology, Ecology, Environmental Management, Mathematics and have worked for NGO’s in Haiti (MSF), on Gates Foundation-funded research in India, on US AID-funded research into safe excreta disposal in emergencies (Cholera and Ebola treatment centres), led MRC-funded projects in Kenya, founded research groups in Brazil, and managed prestigious research laboratories in the US.

All have gone on to forge careers within the burgeoning field of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and or microbiology, either via academia, or industry. The sustained success of our thriving research group stems from a blend of enthusiasm for the wider subject area and from a long-held desire to break down barriers, to ensure that epidemiologists mix with engineers, and microbiologists work with modellers. This has been achieved by exchanging PhD students (and Early Career Researchers) with trusted and established international project collaborators within the public, private and voluntary sectors.

I also maintain a rolling programme of group activities, training initiatives and social events for new arrivals into the group, which is increasingly populated by previous PhD students who are even better placed to support the career aspirations of our current and future Doctoral students. With unsafe water supply and sanitation responsible for an estimated 842,000 deaths per year, the WASH sector continues to face significant challenges, which are only likely to be met through interdisciplinary, cross-border collaboration by a new generation of WASH-focussed researchers, capable of confidently sharing ideas across a range scientific domains and via an increasingly complex network of stakeholders and end-users. I hope that as my students continue to emerge into the ‘dazzlingly lighted hall’ they are as well-rounded and well-placed as possible to meet this challenge.   

Prof Rebecca Elmhirst

I am currently supervising four PhD students, two of whom are part of a H2020 Marie Curie Sklodowska Innovative Training Network. I am interested in supervising MRes and doctoral projects relating to (feminist) political ecology, and in particular, projects that relate to social and environmental justice, climate and agrarian resource extractivism, decolonial thinking and critical approaches to sustainable development. 

Dr Angelo Pernetta

I am interested in supervising postgraduate research students in the following areas: understanding and mitigating anthropogenic impacts on species and communities, behavioural ecology and ecotoxicology; aquatic ecology and conservation; herpetology; island ecology; illegal wildlife trade.

Dr Sarah Purnell

I am interested in supervising postgraduate research students (MRes and PhD) in the field of water quality assessment and management, with a focus on catchment management, risk assessment, microbial source tracking and apportionment, pathogen transport and survival, pathogen removal efficiency in water and wastewater treatment, water quality mapping and modelling and regulation. Examples of projects i am currently supervising include; 

Bioaccumulation and synergistic effects of chronic pesticide pollution on aquatic organisms – impact on the community structure

Development and optimisation of a pollutant source apportionment approach, utilising cutting-edge source tracking tools

Investigating the causes of environmental degradation in coastal ecosystems and evaluating restoration potential

Containing, characterising, catchment contaminants – Reducing risk at drinking water reservoirs

Developing a rapid assessment tool for salt marsh restoration based upon the integration of in-situ and remote sensing data using machine learning algorithms

Evaluation of Sussex kelps potential for carbon sequestration

Dr Rachel White

Happy to supervise field, questionnaire, and desk-based projects. Passionate about avian ecology and conservation science, human-nature interactions, urban ecology, and patterns and drivers of extinction risk. 

Dr Inga Zeisset

I am happy to supervise projects in the area of molecular ecology as well as amphibian ecology and conservation. I am particularly interested in phylogeography and species distribution, invasive species and the application of eDNA methods to conservation.

For further supervisory staff including cross-disciplinary options, please visit  research staff on our research website.  

Making an application

You will apply to the University of Brighton through our online application portal. When you do, you will require a research proposal, references, a personal statement and a record of your education.

You will be asked whether you have discussed your research proposal and your suitability for doctoral study with a member of the University of Brighton staff. We recommend that all applications are made with the collaboration of at least one potential supervisor. Approaches to potential supervisors can be made directly through the details available online. If you are unsure, please do contact the Doctoral College for advice.

Please visit our How to apply for a PhD page for detailed information.

Sign in to our online application portal to begin.

Fees and funding

 Funding

Undertaking research study will require university fees as well as support for your research activities and plans for subsistence during full or part-time study.

Funding sources include self-funding, funding by an employer or industrial partners; there are competitive funding opportunities available in most disciplines through, for example, our own university studentships or national (UK) research councils. International students may have options from either their home-based research funding organisations or may be eligible for some UK funds.

Learn more about the funding opportunities available to you.

Tuition fees academic year 2023–24

Standard fees are listed below, but may vary depending on subject area. Some subject areas may charge bench fees/consumables; this will be decided as part of any offer made. Fees for UK and international/EU students on full-time and part-time courses are likely to incur a small inflation rise each year of a research programme.

Contact Brighton Doctoral College

To contact the Doctoral College at the University of Brighton we request an email in the first instance. Please visit our contact the Brighton Doctoral College page .

For supervisory contact, please see individual profile pages.

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PhD opportunities

Why study with us?

Fees and funding

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Studentships

Our commitment to postgraduate researchers.

The status of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) as a centre of scientific excellence is complemented by a prominent role in training the next generation of environmental researchers. Our postgraduate researchers (PGRs) benefit from state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, field sites and data centres, which they can draw on to support their research. More than 100 UKCEH supervisors work together in multi-skilled teams to offer a unique breadth of experience and knowledge to advise and assist PGRs throughout their training.

Postgraduate community

More than 190 PGRs are undertaking their PhD research in association with UKCEH. Many PGRs are registered with the Universities of Edinburgh, Lancaster, Bangor and Reading.

UKCEH is an active partner in a number of different studentship funding agreements, including five UKRI Centres for Doctoral Training and nine  Doctoral Training Partnerships , the Graduate School for the Environment , Marie-Curie ITN , Leverhulme Trust and as a collaborator with a number of CASE award partners. PGRs at UKCEH access a wide range of training and ideas from these connections.

What you can expect as a PGR at UKCEH

As a PGR at UKCEH you can access diverse laboratory facilities, field sites and data centres to support your research. UKCEH supervisors and staff offer a unique breadth of experience and knowledge to advise and assist you throughout your training in a multi-disciplinary environment.

UKCEH offers a unique training environment for postgraduate researchers including opportunities to be based or spend time at one of four research centres, have access to world-class scientists, participate in an active postgraduate community, and be involved in a range of postgraduate activities and opportunities.

• PGRs at UKCEH are also eligible to attend a variety of specialised training courses developed for UKCEH staff and ecological and hydrological professionals, as well as take part in other learning and development opportunities available.
• In addition to your UKCEH supervisor, you will be supported by the Early Careers Advisor, Local Welfare Officers, Postgraduate Liaison Officers and your local Postgraduate Representatives. Together, they offer opportunities for you to reflect on your PhD, to receive support and gain mentoring for your career development.

Undergraduate internships, placements and work experience

UKCEH regularly receives requests to support or host student internships, placements, sandwich year or work experience opportunities, mostly at undergraduate level. Unfortunately at this time, we have limited capacity to support individual, speculative student requests in such learning opportunities for funding, programmatic and logistical reasons. If this changes in the future, then this page is where such opportunities will be advertised.

In the meantime, UKCEH does participate in these specific funded and established programmes which may be of interest:

• Hydro-JULES summer intern programme (currently recruiting Summer 2024 opportunities: closing date Friday 29 March 2024)
• NERC undergraduate research experience placement (REP) programme (likely to be funded for Summer 2024 with UKCEH opportunities available. Please check back).

We recommend applying to advertised opportunities where suitable if you are interested in gaining environmental science experience at UKCEH. You may also find it useful to review our UKCEH job platform to see if field roles, laboratory, temporary or other roles of interest are available.

• We are currently recruiting two trainee field ecologists (closing date 20 March 2024)

Current PhD opportunities

Please browse the list below for details of opportunities including doctoral training partnerships that UKCEH are involved with and annually offer PhDs involving UKCEH supervisors. Full contact details are provided on project adverts or on  UKCEH staff webpages . Please check individual adverts for details of how to apply.

• None currently advertised

Graduate School for the Environment

The Graduate School for the Environment is a collaboration between UKCEH, the Lancaster Environment Centre and Rothamsted Research. PhD projects are available in Biological Science, Environmental Science & Geography. Opportunities are available to develop your own self-funded proposal , to apply for a funded position or to apply through a Doctoral Training Partnership .

NERC Doctoral training partnerships (DTPs)

We generally offer PhD opportunities with these DTPs each year .  

• PhD Salary in UK – Explained
• Funding a PhD

What Are PhD Salaries?

The average cost of undertaking a PhD in the UK is approximately £20,000 per academic year for UK students and £40,000 for international students. To help offset the cost of this, many students question whether undertaking a doctorate comes with a PhD salary.

The salary of a PhD student is governed by three factors: whether they’re assisting in undergraduate teaching, assisting in research, or have secured a PhD with a stipend. Depending on which of the three categories a student falls within, they will receive an income during their studies, however, the amount will differ by a substantial amount.

To help show you how you can fund your postgraduate degree and how much you can expect to earn whilst doing so, carry on reading below.

Types of PhD Salaries

There are three types of PhD degree salaries:

• Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) . In exchange for a salary, you’ll be required to assist in the delivery of one or more courses over a number of years. This includes, but is not limited to, marking student tutorials, supervising lab experiments and providing support to undergraduates during office hours. Besides this, you may have to teach a small section of the course itself. You can discover more about GTAs on King’s College London’s website.
• Research Assistantships (RAs) . In exchange for a salary, you assist a departmental professor with their research. In the ideal scenario, the professor you work with should also be your PhD supervisor and the research you’re asked to support with relates to your own doctoral project.
• Stipend via Studentship: A stipend is a non-repayable grant provided to doctoral students to help support their studies. A studentship covers a student’s tuition fees whilst a stipend covers a PhD student’s living costs. This includes outgoings such as rent, food, bills and basic travel. Unlike Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantships, stipends rarely have duties attached to them. The only expectation of receiving a stipend will be that you maintain continuous progress within your degree.

It’s worth noting these earning opportunities can be also be combined. For example, it’s possible to be a research assistant whilst also committing time to teach undergraduate students.

Average PhD Salary in UK

The average PhD student salary for teaching assistantships will vary depending on the level of responsibility you’re taking. However, to provide figures, past doctoral students have reported receiving approx. £10/hr for marking tutorials, £15/hr for leading laboratory sessions and up to £20/hr for leading undergraduate classes and tutorials.

The actual amount you can earn from teaching assistance will depend on the rate your department offers and the hours you can realistically take on. If you’re on a Graduate Teaching Assistantship programme, they will require you to dedicate a set number of hours per week. If you’re not on a GTA but would still like to earn an income through this scheme, you will likely need to commit several hours per week consistently. Although this can be a great way to earn whilst you study, you need to make sure you manage your time effectively as to not become overwhelmed by taking on an additional commitment.

The average salary for research assistantships will vary depending on the field of the doctoral degree you are enrolled in. Usually, these positions pay between £25,000 to £30,000 per year, however, it’s possible to come across positions which sit slightly outside of this. As a general rule of thumb, STEM assistors are paid more than non-STEM assistors.

In the UK, PhD students can receive a stipend which varies between £15,000 and £18,000 per annum. As part of the studentship your stipend is provided under, your tuition fees will also be paid for. UK tuition fees will vary between universities but are approximately £4,500 per year for doctoral courses starting in 2021/22 as per the UKRI recommendations .

Although £15,000 to £18,000 per year is the typical range for a stipend, some can be far greater than this. For example, Wellcome Trust , a research-charity based in London, offers an annual stipend of up to £23,300 and £26,000 for doctoral students located outside and within London, respectively.

Are PhD Salaries Taxed?

PhD stipends are tax free. Therefore, you don’t need to pay any income tax nor do you need to make any national insurance contributions. This means you’ll keep all the money you receive from an annual stipend. However, this is not the case for Research Assistants.

In the UK, Research Assistants are employed as university staff members and are paid a direct salary as opposed to a stipend. As a result, it will require you to pay tax on your earnings and make national insurance contributions.

To put this into perspective, for the 2019/20 UK tax year, you’re required to pay a 20% tax on any income above £12,500 but less than £50,000. You’re also required to make national insurance contributions of 12% of your weekly earnings over £166 but less than £962. This means that an annual Research Assistantship salary of £30,000 will equate to a take-home salary of £23,938 per year.

How to Get a PhD Stipend

To find research positions which offer stipends, we recommend you search our PhD database and filter by ‘funded’ positions.

Besides this, you can also secure a studentship from UK Research Councils or directly from your university as a scholarship. Independent organisations, such as charities and research trusts, and innovative firms within your industry also offer funding. You can read our PhD studentship guide to see how these work or our Where to find a PhD guide for further ideas.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

How to Get a Research Assistantship PhD

Unfortunately, research assistantships opportunities aren’t as common to come across compared to PhD stipends. Besides this, when they are available, they’re predominantly in STEM subjects such as computer science and engineering. The reason for this is these subjects usually have access to greater research grants and have a greater volume of practical work available.

To find a research assistantship, we recommend that you contact the university departments who host the courses you’re interested in directly. This is because research assistantships help professors with their research, and while they may require help, they may not be openly advertising for it. They may, therefore, be able to create a role for you within their department or put you into contact with one of their colleagues who already has an open position.

International Students

It’s worth noting that international students will have a harder time securing a funded PhD position than UK ‘home’ students will. This is largely because there are usually fewer funding opportunities available to international students, which as a result also attract significant competition.

Besides this, if you’re an international student studying in the UK you will most likely than not be on a Tier 4 visa. Although a Tier 4 visa will allow you to work to earn an additional income alongside any studentship you may have, there will be certain restrictions on what you can and can’t do. For example, during term-time, you won’t be allowed to work more than 20 hours per week. For a full list of restrictions, please refer to the government website.

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Ecologists help to protect and restore the natural environment by providing important information about how human activity affects individual species and ecosystems

As an ecologist, you'll be concerned with ecosystems - the abundance and distribution of organisms (people, plants, animals), and the relationships between organisms and their environment. In this role, you'll usually specialise in a particular area, such as freshwater, marine, terrestrial, fauna or flora, and carry out a range of tasks relating to that area.

When starting out, you'll conduct surveys to identify, record, and monitor species and their habitats. With career progression, your work will become more wide-ranging, and in a senior role you may get involved in policy and management work.

Responsibilities

As an ecologist, you'll need to:

• conduct field surveys to collect biological information about the numbers and distribution of organisms - this may be for a database such as the National Biodiversity Network (NBN)
• carry out taxonomy - the classification of organisms
• apply sampling strategies and employ a range of habitat survey techniques, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), aerial photography, records and maps
• carry out environmental impact assessments
• analyse and interpret data, using specialist software programs
• work on habitat management and creation
• write reports and issue recommendations
• liaise with, and advise, site managers, engineers, planners and others associated with a survey
• build relationships with stakeholders, including members of the public
• carry out research
• undertake teaching in schools or in field centres
• keep up to date with new environmental policies and legislation
• contribute ideas about changes to policy and legislation, based on ecological findings.
• An assistant ecologist role is usually in the region of £18,000 to £22,000, depending on experience.
• With a few years' experience you could earn between £22,000 and £30,000.
• As a senior/principal ecologist, you can expect to earn in the range of £30,000 to £45,000.

Consultancy positions may attract higher salaries.

Additional benefits such as a pension, health insurance and company car may be available.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Working hours and conditions vary according to the type of role and your level of seniority. More senior positions, as with most jobs, tend to mean more office-based management work. Hours can be dictated by the species you're working with, such as bat surveys which need to be conducted at night.

Environmental consultancy working hours vary depending on impending deadlines, which create busier periods.

What to expect

• Job opportunities occur across the country in both urban and rural areas, and overseas work may be occasionally necessary.
• Sites include a huge range of different habitats, from woodland to marine and intertidal environments, such as grassland, heath, mire, peat bogs, river wildlife corridors, brownfield sites, salt marshes, cliff tops, fens and sand dunes.
• Surveys are generally conducted by a small team, usually two people, although you may have to work alone. It's likely you'll work as part of a larger multidisciplinary team including conservation officers, engineers, rangers and administrative staff.
• Field-based survey work can be physically demanding, and patience is often needed to obtain and collect the necessary data. Work is carried out in all weather conditions.
• A driving licence is required for most jobs to travel to survey sites. Some positions, particularly consultancy work, which is often project-based, require extensive travel in the UK and occasionally overseas.

Qualifications

A degree in a biological science or environmental subject is generally required. In particular, the following degree subjects may increase your chances:

• applied life sciences
• biology (specialising in ecology)
• botany/plant science
• conservation biology
• environmental biology
• environmental management
• marine biology

Some employers look for candidates with postgraduate qualifications (an MSc or PhD), particularly for work requiring specialist knowledge, e.g. consultancy work or academic research/teaching. Search postgraduate course in ecology .

It's helpful to join your local Wildlife Trust and become a member of a relevant professional body, such as the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), which has reduced membership rates for students, and free membership for students studying CIEEM accredited degrees. Membership provides the opportunity to meet and network with potential employers and other ecological and environmental professionals.

Look out for skills-based courses, which provide an opportunity to get extra skills valued by employers, offered by organisations such as the:

• Freshwater Biological Association
• The Mammal Society

If you have a PhD, there are research positions in many universities worldwide.

You'll need to show:

• enthusiasm and fascination for animals and plants
• expertise in one or more groups of living organisms
• capacity to identify different species as appropriate to the role
• experience in/enthusiasm for undertaking fieldwork in sometimes harsh conditions
• competence in understanding and using statistics and other ecological data
• the ability to use computer software for recording, analysing and presenting data and reports
• excellent written communication, research and presentation skills
• experience of report writing
• confidence in using survey techniques and identification keys
• teamworking and project management skills
• self-motivation, energy and drive
• an objective approach to working in conservation
• a full driving licence - you'll need this to drive to sites and projects.

Work experience

Pre-entry experience is essential and helps you to develop vital field survey skills. There are many ways to gain relevant and quality experience. Some degree courses include a period of field-based work experience - if yours doesn't, try to take as many practical modules as possible.

Joining relevant societies will provide you with opportunities to get involved in ecological projects and you can find volunteering opportunities through job websites and the websites of conservation organisations.

There are also many opportunities to volunteer overseas, and you'll usually find adverts for these on environmental websites and in your careers service and university department. However, you'll need to raise significant funds for these programmes, so make sure completing one will give you relevant training and experience for your chosen field.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Competition can be fierce in this sector, so gaining as much experience in ecological surveying as you can is essential.

A range of organisations employ ecologists, including:

Nature conservation agencies:

• Natural England
• Natural Resources Wales
• Northern Ireland Environment Agency
• Scottish Natural Heritage

Other governmental and statutory bodies include:

• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• Environment Agency (EA)
• Forestry England
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

You can also find opportunities with your local government, national park authorities and water authorities.

Scientific bodies include:

• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and its research centres, including the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the British Antarctic Survey, and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC).
• The Marine Biological Association (MBA)

Conservation and ecology NGOs and voluntary organisations also hire ecologists. For example:

• Friends of the Earth
• Greenpeace UK
• National Trust
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
• Scottish Wildlife Trust
• The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)
• The Wildlife Trusts
• Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT)

Other employers include the media and public relations, educational institutions and businesses and industry. Biological survey work is also carried out by consultancies working for any of the organisations above or for commercial concerns, such as construction firms, including highway construction, landfill companies and renewable energy companies developing wind farms.

Environmental consultancies are listed in the ENDS Environmental Consultancy Directory .

Look for job vacancies at:

• ENDS Report Jobs
• Environmentjob.co.uk

Applying speculatively to organisations to enquire about jobs or voluntary work can be effective.

Try to build up a network of contacts from any work activities you get involved in. LinkedIn is also a useful tool for connecting you with professionals in the field and for searching for work opportunities.

Professional development

You'll be given training on the job, although employers will generally expect you to have basic skills in surveying and identification, gained from your degree and previous work experience.

Look for external training courses you can do while working. A training budget may be provided for this by your employer. Mentoring support from an experienced colleague may be available.

You can access training events, conferences and support for your continuing professional development (CPD) through membership of professional bodies such as the CIEEM and the  Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) .

If you wish to study at postgraduate level, you can choose from a variety of courses, including sustainable ecology and ecology and conservation.

Career prospects

More structured progression is usually possible in larger organisations where you can work toward the position of senior and principal ecologist. Otherwise, changing locations or employers may help you to progress.

In senior positions you'll usually be more office based, handling managerial tasks, including budget planning and people management.

With appropriate experience and qualifications it's possible to become a Chartered Ecologist (CEcol) and gain admission to the Register of Chartered Ecologists, which is held by the CIEEM. Alternatively, you can become a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) through one of the professional bodies licensed by the Society for the Environment (SocEnv).

Once you've gained enough experience you could set up your own consultancy, working either on your own as a freelance consultant offering specialist expertise, or together with other ecologists offering a broader-based consultancy service.

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