Applications accepted all year round
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
Supervisors: Dr Ben Swallow, Dr Hannah Worthington
About the Project
Conducting formal causal inference for ecological and/or environmental data is challenging due to the complex observational processes that are usually involved. The propensity score method allows the estimation of causal effects in non-experimental studies, however this is dependent on constructing emulated experiments to ensure independence between the observation process and treatment allocation. This PhD will develop and apply novel methodology in causal inference and causal discovery for ecological and/or environmental observational studies, for example changes in spatio-temporal distribution and movement patterns driven by environmental disturbance and impact assessment studies.
How to apply
To make a formal application, complete the online form at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/apply/
Although there is no fixed deadline, you are strongly encouraged to make your application and contact the potential supervisors as early as possible, ideally by December 2026.
Further details
More details about the PhD programme can be found in this document.
Funding Notes
Fully funded scholarship places (fees, plus stipend currently £20,467 for AY 2026/27 with an uplift to be determined for AY 2027/28) are typically available for well-qualified students. UK, EU and other overseas students are all encouraged to apply. Further details of the application and selection procedure are available at View Website and View Website.
