News

Four new research studentships in Wildlife Conservation

WildCRU, together with its collegiate base, Lady Margaret Hall, is thrilled to announce four fully funded doctoral studentships, of which the first two will be awarded in the spring of 2022 for places to be taken up in Michaelmas 2022. Named in honour of the donor, an alumna of LMH, the awardees will be known as Valerie Mitchell LMH/WildCRU Graduate Scholars, and will hold their studentships at the University of Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit in the Department of Zoology, and Lady Margaret Hall. In the WildCRU we regard our graduate students as the engine of our energy, originality and success, so these exciting studentships will play a major role in our future. The second two Valerie Mitchell LMH/WildCRU Graduate Scholarships will commence in Michaelmas 2025.

The mission of the WildCRU is: to achieve practical solutions to conservation problems through original scientific research.  The Selection Committee will be guided by this mission in selecting the Valerie Mitchell Scholars.

The processes of selection and admission of candidates to study for doctorates (D.Phil.) at the University of Oxford and its Colleges are described at www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate and here for the Department of Zoology www.biology.ox.ac.uk/graduate-study.  Candidates, having developed their applications in discussion with possible supervisors in WildCRU will apply for doctoral study through the normal University of Oxford applications process. Those successful in that University process will gain final consideration by the Selection Committee for the two funded scholarships. Final selection will involve an interview with the Selection Committee following success in the University’s admission process, and it is anticipated that the 2022 awards will be made by 30^th May.

The over-arching criterion for selection of the Scholars will be academic excellence, and the quality of their proposal for an appropriate, innovative high-calibre project. The Scholarships are sufficient to fund the Scholars’ stipend and institutional fees at the rate of home (UK) students for three years. Scholars may also receive a contribution to their operating research budget. Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in academic posts in Oxford.