How organisms evolve and interact with their environment are fundamental issues. In addition, preserving ecosystems and their biotas is central to ensuring that future generations can benefit from the scientific insights and ecosystem services that stem from the natural world.

In the Organisms and the Environment Theme, we study an array of basic and strategic questions in evolutionary biology, organismic biology, ecology and biodiversity conservation. We work in the field and laboratory and our research encompasses many animal and plant taxa. We have a particular emphasis on understanding specific adaptations simultaneously at the gene and whole-organism level, and on applying sound basic scientific principles to tackling pressing questions in conservation and applied biology.

There is one large, dynamic and interacting group central to this theme:

Our facilities include excellent molecular laboratories (Hewitt Evolutionary Genetics Lab, Sainsbury laboratory, John Innes Genome Laboratory), constant environment rooms, imaging facilities,and a wealth of excellent local ecological resources. For overseas fieldwork, we also benefit from ongoing collaborations at established field sites around the world.

We actively encourage internal collaborations and interdisciplinary approaches. We hold regular informal seminar series, work in communal laboratories and form an integral part of the interdisciplinary Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation. We also collaborate with a wide range of external organizations.

We achieve high levels of funding from the Research Councils (primarily BBSRC andNERC) and other major scientific funders and host numerous Research Fellows. We also run a successful MSc in Applied Ecology and Conservation and place high value on the research projects conducted by both MSc and undergraduate students. We welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students, postdocs and holders of externally funded fellowships.