MSCA PhD: Response Diversity in the pre- and post-management ecological restoration of co-invading alien plant species in post-industrial landscapes

About The University

Swansea University is a research-led university that has been making a difference since 1920. The University community thrives on exploration and discovery and offers the right balance of excellent teaching and research, matched by an enviable quality of life.

Our stunning waterfront campuses and multicultural community make us a desirable workplace for colleagues from around the world. Our reward and benefits, and ways of working enable those who join us to have enriching careers, matched by an excellent work-life balance.

About The Role

Response diversity describes the variation in how individuals, species, or functional groups respond to environmental change and the concept is increasingly recognised as a key driver of ecosystem resilience. Understanding and promoting response diversity is therefore essential for conserving biodiversity and supporting resilient ecosystems in a changing world.

Socio-ecological problems caused by invasive plants are estimated to cost many tens of billions euros (from £5-14 billion in the UK alone), and are exacerbated by co-invasion of multiple non-native species in the same areas.

Swansea University invites applications for a Doctoral Candidate position within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network ReDiLEEP: Using science-driven response diversity knowledge to leverage efficient ecosystem preservation and restoration.

The Doctoral Candidate will investigate response diversity across socio-ecological dimensions, in functionally distinct, co-invading non-native plant species found in degraded post-industrial landscapes across South Wales (UK). To achieve this Aim, the candidate will integrate greenhouse trials, field experiments, landscape surveys and simulation models to evaluate how interactions among multiple co-invaders, their environment and management history, shape invasion dynamics, informing sustainable restoration strategies that promote resilient ecosystems. A secondment to Advanced Invasives is planned, providing the opportunity to engage with an established company that provides practical, evidence-based, landscape-scale invasive species management and policy-facing work.

The project will provide new insights into how Response Diversity shapes co-invasion dynamics under multiple stressors, including the roles of competition, facilitation, priority effects, propagule pressure, and soil legacies, how these processes affect management outcomes and can be incorporated into policy planning.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity in all its practices and activities. We aim to establish an inclusive environment and welcome diverse applications from the following protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic and national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.

As an inclusive and welcoming workplace, we value people for their skills regardless of their background. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English.

Welsh Language Skills

The Welsh language level required for this role is Level 1 - A little. The role holder will be able to pronounce Welsh words, answer the phone in Welsh (good morning/afternoon) and use very basic everyday words and phrases (thank you, please etc.). Level 1 can be reached by completing a 1 hour course.

The University is a proud bilingual institution, our Welsh Language Strategy outlines our aspiration to promote the language and enable our staff to engage with the language as an additional workplace skill and as a gateway to new cultural and social opportunities. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English. Welsh speakers have the right to an interview in Welsh. Applicants for a role where Welsh skills are essential are expected to present their application in Welsh and will be interviewed in Welsh, if shortlisted.

Additional Information

Applications for this role will take the format of a CV submission and cover letter.

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