STEM Research Projects

Attention bias (AB) describes a tendency to differentially allocate attention towards one of two or more stimuli that vary in emotional content. AB has been used as a non-invasive method of assessing affective state in a range of animal species (review: Crump et al., 2018; primates: Howarth et al., 2021; 2023). AB has been shown to shift in response to enrichment in dogs housed in commercial dog breeding establishments (Baqueiro-Espinosa et al., 2023) but has not been applied in rescue and rehoming centres. To date, no published literature has investigated AB in cats. The project would involve developing a novel welfare assessment tool for use in one of these species. 

This project investigates how badger (Meles meles) population densities affect bumblebee (Bombus spp.) populations in UK agricultural landscapes. Using GIS, camera traps, bee surveys, and artificial nest experiments, it explores whether badgers are significant nest predators or incidental threats, informing pollinator conservation in human dominated habitats.

This project explores the innovative use of directed energy, specifically low-power lasers as a means of controlling slug populations.

The research will assess both lethal and sublethal laser exposures to determine their effects on slug mortality, behaviour, and physiological susceptibility to additional control methods, such as plant derived saponins, conventional pesticides, and predation by natural enemies such as carabid beetles.

A secondary objective is to evaluate the feasibility of integrating laser-based targeting into autonomous robotic systems for precision pest management in agricultural environments. This multidisciplinary approach aims to enhance integrated pest management (IPM) strategies with minimal ecological disruption.

This project explores how caffeine, increasingly considered for use in crop systems to enhance pollination, affects the physiology, behaviour, survival and activities of bumblebees. Focusing on both acute and chronic effects at individual and colony levels, it combines lab based experimentation with pilot studies into caffeine uptake in plants.

This project investigates the potential of naturally plants derived saponin compounds, as an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical slug control. It involves extracting and testing saponins for their molluscicidal properties against slug and potentially other pest species, aiming to develop sustainable pest control solutions.

The BATMAN Research Project, funded by the Leverhulme Trust and in collaboration with the Vincent Wildlife Trust, has been collecting data from 10 lesser horseshoe bat roosts in North Wales since 2024. We would like to recruit two MRes students to join our team. Their projects would mostly be desk-based, although there would be opportunities to join roost visits. The aim of these projects would be to assess how noise and light pollution affect (1) behavioural time budgets (via analysis of video footage), and (2) social communication (via analysis of ultrasound recordings). Results will be used to inform evidence-based conservation strategies for this sensitive and protected bat species during the critical maternity period.

Applicants must be able to evidence experience of animal behavioural observations or experience of/willingness to learn how to conduct sound analysis.

The role of Retinoic Acid (RA) has been well characterised within the context of the vertebrate limb where it regulates limb initiation, patterning along theproximo-distal axis as well as the induction of Shh expression in the polarising region. However there has been limited research into the role of signalling via specific Retinoic Acid Receptors (RARs) within this context. This project aims to utilise a specific RARg agonist in order to untangle the limb processes it regulates.

Seafood is the most traded food commodity in the world. Approximately one-quarter of fish samples from all studies on food fraud have been found to be mislabelled. As well as deceiving customers by overcharging and hindering sustainable choices, food fraud in the fishing industry also leads to significant safety risks. Combating these crimes is a challenging and complex task that pivots on the development of methods for verifying the authenticity of fish produce. This project will test methods of protein and/or genetic analyses in identifying and tracing fish products in high-impact areas of fish crime.

The candidate should ideally have some experience of biomolecular extraction and analysis (proteomics, or DNA), or similar transferrable lab skills.

Some sharks, and all true skates, reproduce by laying eggs. These eggs are surrounded by a tough leathery capsule that protects the embryo as it develops inside. Empty egg cases can provide researchers with an indication of species presence and diversity in nearby waters. However, they are often not that easy to identify morphologically. This is because many egg cases from similar species can look the same, or because they may be old and have degraded partially in the ocean prior to being washed ashore. Additionally, endogenous DNA can be highly degraded and therefore challenging to extract and amplify. However, protein analysis may hold the key to species identification in this challenging tissue type. This project seeks to trial proteomic analyses to help unlock species identification in shark and ray egg cases found around the coast of the UK. This project is in collaboration with The Shark Trust.

The candidate should ideally have some experience of biomolecular extraction and analysis (proteomics, or DNA), or similar transferrable lab skills.

Biofilm formation can be beneficial (bioremediation, water treatment, bioreactors, soil stabilisation), or harmful (food safety, healthcare/orthopaedics, environmental). If/how biofilms form can be heavily surface influenced, and promoting/hindering biofilm growth can be influenced by engineering surface structures. Nature provides many effective micro- and nanostructured surface types that can do this, for example Cicada wings, or lotus leaves. These projects will focus on the bioinspired surface modification (by laser engineering, chemical etching, and/or application of coatings) of application relevant materials, and testing their impact on the growth and development (or lack of) of different biofilm forming bacteria.

Optimising protocols for DNA extraction, sequencing, and sequence analysis to understand microbial diversity or lack thereof in different environments, e.g. soil health, and microbiomes of different organisms. Individual projects will focus on a specific environment. Techniques involved will include DNA extraction, PCR/QPCR, oxford nanopore sequencing, database creation, and traditional microbiology.

There are currently only 126 Livingstone’s fruit bats in captivity, most of these residing and successfully breeding in two UK zoos. This captive breeding population is essential for the long-term persistence of this Endangered species. As part of a larger research programme set up in 2017, this MRes project will determine whether social networks quantified in 2019/2020 predict the strength of relationships present in the current population. This will improve our understanding of social complexity in this species and enable evidence-based management to support positive welfare.

The candidate should have experience of conducting behavioural observations on animals and be prepared to spend around two months in each of two locations (Jersey and Northumberland).

Electronic structure modelling of materials surfaces and interfaces, for applications related to solar cells, light emitting diodes, and transistors.

Modelling of electron transport in single-molecule junctions, for applications related to molecular transistors.

Nanoscale modelling of charge and exciton diffusion in organic thin films, for applications related to organic solar cells and organic light emitting diodes.

The project involves the design and building  of several virtual environments, based on common, real-world, physical spaces. For example: an office environment, a shop, a hospital ward, a train carriage. These models should include a realistic representation of the real-world, 3-dimensional, sonic environment. Once built testing will involve deploying a variety of audio alert sounds in these spaces and recruiting sample users to see how well they are able to perceive the alerts.

The aesthetic usability effect describes the phenomenon where users perceive more aesthetically pleasing computer interface designs as easier to use, regardless of their underlying usability. The focus of this project is to develop a set of interactive interface prototype, levering several modalities, and determine if there are correlations between user perceptions of aesthetics and usability with data and metrics obtained using eye tracking equipment.