EastBio: Predicting species interactions with traits and phylogenies

About the Project

Interactions between species – such as predator-prey, host-parasite, plant-pollinator – are a fundamental property of biological communities. Many interactions are important for human populations, because they deliver ecosystem services (such as pest control), contribute to food security, and cause transmission of human, livestock and crop diseases.

Which species interact, and how often, depends on species traits – for example, plant-pollinator interactions can be structured by floral colour, scent and shape, and pollinator anatomy and food requirements. However, the traits that structure interactions are often unknown.

If related species have similar trait values, then interactions involving unsampled species may be predictable based on the interactions of their close relatives. This is potentially useful in predicting the community impacts of species gain and loss in an ever-changing world, because while collecting species interaction and trait information is difficult and labour-intensive, adding species to a phylogeny is increasingly easy and cheap.

This project will use interaction data from a range of interaction types and communities to address the following questions.

1. How strong is phylogenetic signal in species interactions?
2. How well can we predict the interactions of unsampled species?
3. Does phylogenetic signal vary in a predictable way among communities and interactions of different types?
4. Does inclusion of biological traits improve explanatory power?

This project offer opportunities to develop advanced skills in statistical modelling of species interaction networks and phylogenies, using a combination of new and existing datasets. The supervisors’ research groups combine expertise in plant-pollinator and herbivore-parasitoid networks (Stone) and insect-virus interactions (Obbard). You will be based at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution at Edinburgh University, with opportunities to visit and work with other research groups, particularly in Europe.

For more information on the project, eligibility and how to apply for the School's PhD programme, please click on the "Visit Institution Website" link.

Please download and complete the mandatory documents from the EastBio “how to apply” website, before proceeding with your application.

Applicants should apply to the PhD in Biological Sciences with Internship programme via the University of Edinburgh’s admissions portal (Euclid) with a start date of 01 October 2027.

Important: Before applying, please send your referees the EastBio reference form to ensure reference letters are submitted using the correct format.

When completing the Euclid application, applicants should include:

• the project title
• the proposed research supervisor(s)
• anticipated funding source (i.e. EastBio/ Edinburgh Doctoral College Award)
• the completed EastBio application form, uploaded to the Research Proposal Section
• referee details or completed reference letters using the template EastBio reference form. Please note: If you submit only the referee details, they will automatically receive a link to upload their reference letter. However, the submitted letter must be using the template form, so please share this with them in advance.

The closing date for applications to be submitted to Euclid is midday on Monday 16 November 2026.

Reference letters will be accepted up to 2 weeks after the closing date.

Submitted applications will remain under consideration during the shortlisting process until 22 February 2027, when successful candidates will be invited to interview. If any information is missing from your application, we will contact you through Euclid to request this. Please check your emails and the Euclid portal regularly.

Please be aware The University reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or withdraw any of the advertised scholarships, without further notice.

Funding Notes

This 4 year PhD project is fully funded. Applicants will be considered for either an EastBio BBSRC Doctoral Landscape Award or the University of Edinburgh Doctoral College Award. Successful applicants will join the EastBio cohort as an EastBio-funded or associate-funded student. Those joining will undertake a mandatory training programme which includes a 3-month placement. This is open to students worldwide has financial support with a monthly stipend at the UKRI standard rate, funding towards project costs, and tuition fee cover. For further guidance; EastBio website; no separate application is required for consideration of the University of Edinburgh Doctoral College Award.

References

• Strydom et al (2021) introduces the general field of predicting species interactions – why we might want to do it, and how we identify useful models. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 376: 20210063. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2021.0063
• Peralta et al. (2024) uses plant-pollinator interactions to illustrate alternative approaches. TREE 39: 494-505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2023.12.005
• Sinclair et al. (2025) quantify phylogenetic signal in interactions between herbivorous insects and their parasitoids. Am Nat 206, E1-E28. https://doi.org/10.1086/735854
• Wallace et al. (2025) explore the ecological and evolutionary factors that drive insect-virus associations. Proc. R. Soc. B (2025) 292 (2044): 20250389. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.0389