The UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) have made a combined £9M investment in a PhD research and training programme led by the University of Aberdeen to prepare the next generation of environmental scientists to tackle global environmental grand challenges such as the climate crisis and biodiversity loss.
The QUARTILES - Doctoral Landscape Award brings together biological scientists and geoscientists from University of Aberdeen and Queen’s University Belfast, working with over 50 external partners from government, industry, charities and other bodies involved in environmental management and policy development. It will provide a training programme and research opportunities for over 100 PhD students over the next five years, commencing October 2025.
Professor Graeme Paton, Head of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Aberdeen said: “QUARTILES-DLA provides an innovative opportunity to train and empower future research leaders with a holistic understanding of environmental science who can then work across a range of sectors to deliver novel solutions to the most pressing environmental problems.”
Dr Sarah Helyar from Queen’s University Belfast added: “Aberdeen and Belfast are on the very front line of environmental management, and go-to partners-of-choice for collaboration on environmental issues with government and industry. We can use these links to provide a unique experience for our students that help them deliver highly relevant research and translate that into real-world impact.”
Professor Stuart Piertney, the University of Aberdeen’s Dean for Postgraduate Research said: “This investment recognises our research excellence in environmental sciences and our commitment to training PhD students as innovative research leaders.”