PhD studentship- Eurasian Curlew

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• Location:Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
• Earnings:Fully funded PhD

PhD studentship - Beyond borders: habitat use of wintering Eurasian Curlew in and around coastal SPAs

Location
Based at both Liverpool John Moores University and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Thetford.

Time commitment
Full-time, 1 October 2026 – 30 September 2030 (part-time studentship applications will be considered in exceptional circumstances)

Funding
This is a fully funded PhD. Funding will consist of full UK home student tuition fees, a living stipend at UK Research Council rates for 4 years, and a budget for research costs and training opportunities

Project description
The estuaries of northwestern Europe provide rich feeding grounds for wintering waterbirds on the East Atlantic Flyway, with many designated as Special Protection Areas (SPAs). While many species spend their time exclusively in estuarine habitats, as tidal mudflat feeders, waders are restricted to using estuarine habitats only when tides are low, moving onto beaches and saltmarshes to roost at high tide, with some species also using inland terrestrial habitats beyond SPA boundaries. The Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) is one such species, with previous work on The Wash SPA suggesting extensive use of agricultural fields for both roosting and feeding through the autumn and winter. Most populations of Curlew across Europe are declining rapidly, and with many coastal areas subject to anthropogenic pressures such as fishing, wildfowl hunting, recreation, and housing and infrastructure development, there is a strong imperative to protect all habitats used by Curlews during the non-breeding season to mitigate threats to their overwinter survival and reduce sources of pressure on already threatened populations.

Drawing on extensive existing datasets, including ringing, colour-mark resighting, high spatial resolution GPS tracking and accelerometry data, the student will assess individual- and population-level movement patterns of over-wintering Eurasian Curlew (UK & Ireland). There will also be the opportunity for fieldwork, collecting information on Curlew behaviour, habitat use, social interactions, and deploying new GPS tags.

This work is crucial for understanding the spatial and temporal importance of different habitats around SPAs on a daily, seasonal and inter-annual basis. Ultimately, the outputs from this project can be used to inform conservation actions and mitigate potential threats to wintering waterbirds in the UK and beyond.

Training Opportunities
The student will have the opportunity to be based at both Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). At LJMU, the student will be integrated into the vibrant School of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Behavioural Ecology and Physiology Research Group, and will receive a range of research development opportunities and support from the Doctoral Academy and supervisory team. The student will be expected to closely collaborate with BTO’s Wetland & Marine Research Team, who have a wealth of expertise on wintering waterbird ecology and movement data analysis. At BTO, the student will be able to network with top applied conservation researchers and benefit from development opportunities with the BTO’s science communication and engagement teams.

Student Profile
The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, ideally with experience working with biologging data using any of spatial analyses, resource selection or habitat use analysis, network analysis or machine learning expertise. The candidate should have strong ecological and ornithological knowledge and ideally be familiar with wader ecology. The candidate would ideally have either a Master’s or equivalent experience, and have experience in interpreting location data. The candidate should be curious and self-motivated, and should be excited about embracing the experience of being based at both Liverpool John Moores University and an applied research eNGO like BTO.

Other information
It is expected that the student would spend time based at both LJMU and BTO (Thetford office) throughout the course of the PhD, with the initial expectation this time might be more weighted towards LJMU early in the PhD, with more time at BTO later in the PhD. However, this is not prescriptive and will depend on the student’s personal circumstances and agreed working arrangements with the supervisory team.

Funding notes
The successful student will be supported by four years (Oct 2026 - Sep 2030) of full funding via an unusual privately funded studentship opportunity from BTO.

Only UK home students are eligible for this studentship. Applications from candidates from under-represented ethnic minority backgrounds are encouraged.

Funding will consist of full UK home student tuition fees and a living stipend at UK Research Council rates for 4 years. The student will also benefit from a substantial budget for research costs and training opportunities. Funding will be subject to satisfactory progress via a yearly review.

Application process
Closing date for receipt of applications is 18th February 2026 @ 23:59 GMT. Applications will be assessed by the supervisory team and the funders of the studentship opportunity. 

Applicants must be available for online interviews on Thursday 26th February 2026. The interview panel will comprise the supervisory team members.

As this is a joint project between BTO and LJMU, for informal discussions about this opportunity please send your email to both Dr Christine Beardsworth- LJMU (C.E.Beardsworth@ljmu.ac.uk) and Dr Sam Franks- BTO (samantha.franks@bto.org).

If you have a disability or long-term illness that otherwise prevents you from meeting any of the essential criteria, please contact us to discuss whether a reasonable adjustment could be made.

Charity No. 216652 (E&W); SC039193 (Scotland)

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BTO NI Science/Engagement Intern

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• Location:Lisburn
• Earnings:£25877.80 to £25877.80

BTO NI Science/Engagement Intern Northern Ireland Full time, Temporary (6-month internship available) £25,888 per annum pro rata + 11% employer pension contribution

The British Trust for Ornithology is seeking Internships to assist with our Science and Engagement work in NI. We are seeking to fill one 6-month position. We have a range of Science and Engagement projects that we are looking for support with this year. You will work closely with the BTO NI team and will be line-managed by Jemma Davies, BTO NI Engagement Coordinator.

The position is supported through funding from the DAERA Environment Fund.

The successful applicant will have a strong interest in ornithology, ecology or a related subject area, and be familiar with bird species found within Northern Ireland. Applicants should enjoy, and be effective at, communicating with a range of colleagues, the general public and other stakeholders. A willingness to learn, be self-motivated and possess good time management skills are also essential.

You need to be available for a six-month period during the 2026/27 financial year (preferably starting on 8 April 2026).

This is an opportunity to gain valuable experience and ‘on the job’ training for those seeking a future career in this sector.

You will be expected to be based in Northern Ireland for the duration of the internship, and your place of work will be the BTO NI office in Lisburn. This role is supported by grant funding intended to upskill people based in Northern Ireland. We therefore particularly welcome applications from candidates currently living in Northern Ireland.

Please note that, if you are the successful candidate, you will be required to provide documentary evidence of your right to live and work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer visa sponsorship at this time.

You can read the full role description by clicking on the role description under 'supporting documents' in the job details on our careers page. Please contact us if you are not sure if you meet all the criteria for the role and would like to discuss the role in more detail.

WHAT DOES BTO DO?
BTO helps to secure the future for birds and nature, using our science, monitoring and data to inform good environmental decisions, inspiring others with the wonder of birds and empowering them to work with us. Our priority is to make a positive impact for birds, using our strong and objective science in partnership with others. We strive to work sustainably and to welcome everyone.

Our values
We are evidence-led, inclusive, collaborative and empowering.
Birds Science People; it is a powerful combination – will you be part of it?

WHAT WE OFFER
★    £25,888 per annum
★    Annual Leave: 25 days per year (plus bank holidays), increasing with service to 26 days after 5 years, 28 days after 10 years, and 30 days after 15 years (pro rata for part-time staff).
★    Paid 'journey days' (up to 2 days) to staff who travel on holiday by land or sea instead of flying.
★    Annual team away days
★    Life assurance (four times salary)
★    11% employer pension contribution
★    Employee Assistance Programme offering help and advice to staff and their families on matters related to bereavement, wellbeing, finances, relationships, family and more. This includes a number of free counselling sessions.
★    Enhanced sick pay
★    Enhanced Family leave- Maternity, Adoption, and Shared Parental Leave, 12 weeks at full pay. Paternity and Partner leave, 4 weeks at full pay.
★    Health cash plan which enables staff to claim back some healthcare expenses, such as prescriptions, dental treatment and specialist diagnostic tests. It also offers: Discounts on gym memberships and various retailers, a virtual GP and prescription service, on-demand wellness content (fitness, yoga,meditation, sleep, mindfulness) and access to Health Lens, Eargym, and digital physiotherapy via Phio.
★    Retail discounts through MyLifestyle.
★    Cycling friendly employer- gold accredited
★    Cycle to work scheme- spread the cost of purchasing a new bike and save money
★    Discounts on: BTO books, Bird care from Vine House Farm  (10% discount on orders placed on the website) and Opticron (15% off)
★    Free access to BTO training courses
★    Flexible working- A combination of home and office working and flexible start and finish times (where this meets business needs)
★    Free eye tests and a contribution of £49 towards prescription glasses for VDU use only.
★    Free car parking
★    Effective job evaluation policy that recognises where staff increase their level of responsibility over time
★    Coaching and mentoring scheme
★    Staff groups and forums- First Aiders and mental health first aiders, Coaching and mentoring, Diversity working, Sustainability and Natural Working, Becoming Inclusive, Neurodiversity group, LGBTQ+ group and our staff group creating a positive and welcoming culture to work in.
★    Commitment to creating an inclusive environment
★    Commitment to sustainability

Closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday 15th February 2026, 23:59 and interviews will be held in-person at the BTO NI offices in Lisburn, Northern Ireland on Thursday 5th March and Friday 6 March 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact recruitment@bto.org.

If you have a disability or long-term illness that otherwise prevents you from meeting any of the essential criteria, please contact us to discuss whether a reasonable adjustment could be made.
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the vacancy.

We recognise that candidates from minority ethnic groups are under-represented in our organisation, and that there are often additional barriers present for people from these groups when applying for roles in the charity sector and beyond. We are committed to taking positive action to expand the diversity of our staff team, and if you meet the essential criteria for a role and are from a minority ethnic background, you'll be guaranteed a first stage interview.

Charity No. 216652 (E&W); SC039193 (Scotland)

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