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Currently, I am a 1st year PhD student in the Deep-time Ecology group studying the physical traits of the earliest-known animals in the fossil record. Ediacaran organisms (~580-539 million years ago) display very few morphological similarities with modern animals but understanding them is important because they provide critical insight into the evolution of life on Earth. My aim is to determine which characteristics are key to Ediacaran palaeoecological and macroevolutionary trends utilising quantitative and petrography-based techniques. My PhD project is co-supervised by Dr Emily Mitchell and Prof Jason Head in the Department of Zoology and University Museum of Zoology, as well as Dr Charlotte Kenchington from the Department of Earth Sciences.
Prior to commencing my PhD in Zoology, I first undertook an MSci in Geology at University College London (UCL). My fascination with the origin of life was ignited during the completion of a NERC research experience placement under the guidance of my now supervisor Dr Emily Mitchell. This internship changed my perception of postgraduate study. I initially thought that PhDs, especially at an institution like Cambridge, were quite daunting; however, I thoroughly enjoyed my placement and had such a positive experience that I was inspired to apply to PhD programmes. I am now very fortunate for my PhD to be funded by the C-CLEAR DTP and the Department of Zoology Balfour scholarship.
I believe that the Department of Zoology is a very welcoming and supportive community that prioritises mental wellbeing and fosters academic excellence across students and faculty members. Every week postgraduates can practice giving research talks in a friendly and relaxed environment during the Grad Tea Talks, and this is followed by Happy Hour which is a department-wide social event. There is a plethora of analytical facilities and academic resources widely available to researchers in the Department of Zoology, such as the Cambridge Biotomography Centre (CBC) and various training workshops, respectively. My personal favourite is the vast quantity of specimens housed in the collections of our very own University Museum of Zoology. Furthermore, the department provides financial support for fieldwork, which is an invaluable component of my PhD because the fossils that I research are located in Newfoundland, Canada. Due to my close ties to the Department of Earth Sciences, I also have the opportunity to demonstrate in practical lessons which I find particularly rewarding.
Princess Buma-At, Deep-time Ecology Group (May 2024)
As a conservation biologist, my journey has been defined by a commitment to improve the status of threatened species in Asia and mitigate anthropogenic environmental change. Specializing in migratory shorebirds, my work revolves around developing scientific tools to manage coastal habitats amidst climate change. My academic journey includes completing a Conservation Leadership master's program at the Cambridge Department of Geography, supported by the Chevening scholarship of the UK government. Currently pursuing a PhD in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge on a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, my research involved intensive fieldwork in coastal areas of Asia to improve understanding of the populations and habitat requirements of migratory shorebirds and the factors driving their population declines. Through rigorous scientific inquiry, I aim to inform coastal planning decisions and advocate for the conservation of critical habitats.
Sayam Chowdhury, Conservation Science Group (April 2024)
My experience as a PhD student in the Conservation Science Group at the Department of Zoology, under the supervision of world's top conservation scientists - Professor Andrew Balmford and Professor Rhys Green, has been immensely rewarding. The department has provided me with ample opportunities to explore my potential and has equipped me with useful tools and resources. During my first year, I attended various courses offered by the School of Biological Sciences and the university, which proved instrumental in analysing my data later on. The department also supported my fieldwork by providing seed grants annually.
Engagement with fellow students and postdocs has been invaluable, as discussions with them often led to solutions for research and analysis-related challenges. The supportive and constructive guidance from my supervisors and advisors has been a cornerstone of my PhD journey. Being a part of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) allowed me to interact with professionals in nature conservation organisations, enabling me to understand how my research can be applied to real-world conservation issues. Despite coming from a different cultural background, I found the department to be inclusive and respectful of diverse perspectives, fostering a welcoming environment for everyone.
I am a first year PhD student in the Marine Behavioural Ecology (MBE) Group, working with Dr James Herbert-Read. My research explores the collective foraging behaviour of sandeels (Ammodytes tobianus). Sandeels are fish that bury in the sand to avoid their predators but emerge as groups to feed in the water column. I am interested in the rules sandeels use to coordinate their decisions to emerge and re-bury. Specifically, I am interested in how both social and environmental factors (such a food availability and predation risk) influence this decision-making process, and whether the rules individual use to achieve such coordination are adaptive.
After completing my final-year undergraduate research project on sandeels in the MBE group, I knew that the Department of Zoology would be a supportive environment that would allow me to explore the research questions I was interested in. Furthermore, the broad range of research that is carried out within the Department, mirrored in the topics of the weekly departmental seminars, allows you to expand your interests beyond your specific field. There are also many opportunities as a graduate student to present your own research to other members of the Department, as well as keep up to date with what other research is going on – for example via the behavioural ecology lunchtime talk series or the Grad tea-talks.
The weekly happy hour allows researchers from different lab groups to exchange ideas, as well as creating a friendly atmosphere within the department. I am funded by a Whitten studentship in aquatic biology and am a member of the Whitten Programme in Tropical and Aquatic Biology. This group (as with other cohorts) meets regularly to socialise and further provides me with a sense of community and support within the Department. A particular strength of the Department is the community of early career researchers who are always happy to give up their time to provide you with guidance and assistance. They are genuinely interested in your work and want to see you succeed.
There are further benefits provided by being a member of the University. For example, the researcher development programme provides a large range of free training opportunities to graduate students. Additionally, the collegiate system allows you to engage with researchers in different disciplines as well as providing opportunities for socializing beyond the Department
Daisy Cooper, Marine Behavioural Ecology Group (April 2024)