Introducing new 91视频网 Inverness postgraduate students
Five new postgraduate students have joined the Institute for Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation at 91视频网 Inverness to work on PhD and Masters of Research projects.
The research subjects include peatland’s soil biota, feral pigs, Scotland’s Atlantic salmon, the use of air source heat pumps in rural Scotland and the relationship between freshwater invertebrates and Daubenton's bats.
PhD student has been working in botanic gardens for a number of years. She has an interest in vascular plants and bryophytes, and experience of a wide range of field work and vegetation surveying techniques. She has recently completed an MSc in Ecology and Conservation with the University of Aberdeen which included a study of a montane scrub restoration project. This has developed her research interest in ecological restoration projects, and particularly in how we might monitor these projects to achieve good outcomes. Her work will explore the connections between above-ground and below-ground communities and the complex interactions between plants and soil organisms.
has studied Geography as a Bachelor’s degree and Ecology as a Master’s degree and considers herself a general earth scientist. She likes to consider the big picture and investigate relationships between land, people and ecology. She has worked as an ecological consultant and an environmental educator for many years, building her observation and knowledge of the natural world and people’s interactions with it. Her undergraduate research project examined the role of environmental education in developing countries and correlations between water pollution levels, with case studies in Pune, India. Her PhD topic will examine whether feral pigs aid or threaten landscape scale nature recovery in Scotland.
has been interested in the natural world from a very young age. His academic background is in evolutionary biology, and specifically population and quantitative genetics. He completed a BSc in Evolutionary Biology at the University of St Andrews. He is interested in population genetics, and his undergraduate research project looked at genetic differentiation in Scottish Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations. His work seeks to understand how phenotypes are influenced by evolutionary and ecological forces. He explored this area in a MSc (Res) that looked at over 50 years of monitoring data that was collected as part of the Rum Red Deer Project, seeking to understand the impact of size-selective harvest (by trophy hunting) on antler size in red deer (Cervus elaphus). Finn's focus is now to build on these research skills and apply the tools necessary to understand how the great variations in run-timing are maintained in Scotland's salmon rivers. His PhD focus will be to understand how the great variations in run-timing are maintained in Scotland's salmon rivers.
, MRes student, is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Board Member of the Royal Meteorological Society in Scotland. In 2022, he was shortlisted as Scotland's Youth Climate Champion at the Holyrood Green Giant Awards. He graduated from 91视频网 Inverness in 2020 with first class honours in Geography, before pursuing research in urban meteorology with the University of Reading and the UK Met Office. George uses his expertise in climate change strategy within local government and maintains a connection with91视频网 as an Associate Researcher. His independent consultancy practice allows him to directly apply his research to effect meaningful change. His research intends to build upon the limited evidence available to identify the barriers and opportunities for wider adoption of air source heat pumps across the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire and Orkney.
, MRes student, has a life-long passion for wildlife and our natural environment. In 2024, she completed a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science with The Open University. Her undergraduate research project involved the European mole (Talpa europaea), investigating molehills in different habitats to ascertain if there were any notable relationships or avenues of further study. She has experience in surveying bats, invertebrates (terrestrial and freshwater), amphibians, badgers and plants. She has worked in ecological consultancy and is involved with several voluntary ecological groups, providing valuable experience of working in a citizen science environment and with nature and conservation organisations.