DrRichard Gill
Associate Professor in Evolutionary & Experimental Ecology
Department of Life Sciences (Silwood Park) - Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Associate Professor in Evolutionary & Experimental EcologyDepartment of Life Sciences (Silwood Park) - Faculty of Natural Sciences
- 020 7594 2215 (Work)
- N2.13, Munro, Silwood Park, United Kingdom
BIO
Imperial College London PhD opportunities - insect responses to global change factors.
The Gill research group is looking for PhD candidates to join their research group studying beneficial insect responses to environmental change and pollution and the impacts on ecological function.
Taking a genes-2-ecosystem approach, we adopt a variety of approaches spanning biological levels: molecular-physiology-behaviour-population-community_interactions. Our focal insect system typically being studied are bees (along with their host plants), and the PhD candidate would have access to a variety of molecular tools, experimental setups, field sites and large datasets.
For chosen candidates, we will fully support the application. Whilst proposed projects can be flexible (desk-, lab- and field-based options), we have a set of projects outlined that fall under the following topics:
1. Thermal trait-based approaches for understanding Arctic plant-pollinator responses to climate change (northern food web systems)
2. Leveraging entomological museum specimens for understanding how different dimensions of biodiversity are responding to environmental change
3. Determining how changes to climate alter the impacts of pollution (e.g. pesticides) on the health and function of beneficial insects (and microbiomes)
4. Automated sensing for understanding insect distributions and dispersal across urban matrices.
5. Polli-markers: cueing into plant pollination signals for mapping pollinator function across landscapes at scale.
A variety of competitive scholarships are available, including:
# Life Sciences Department PhD - Link: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/life-sciences/postgraduate/research/phd-opportunities/department-of-life-sciences-phd-studentships/
Deadline: 23:59 BST on 08 Jan 2027 / Eligibility: UK nationals (including EU candidates with UK settled status)
# Imperial President’s PhD Link: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/postgraduate-doctoral/grants-scholarships/presidents-phd/
Deadline: 23:59 BST on 02 November 2026 / Eligibility: Worldwide
# Commonwealth PhD – Link: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/postgraduate-taught/grants-scholarships/international-scholarship-collaborations/ics/
Deadline: 16:00 hours BST on 20 October 2026 / Eligibility: please see: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-phd-scholarships-for-least-developed-countries-and-vulnerable-states/
If interested: please email Richard Gill (r.gill@imperial.ac.uk) with your CV, the topic(s) of interest, and any supporting text, ASAP.
Dr Gill will assess the candidates on a rolling basis and he will contact you if you are a suitable candidate. Emails will stop being assessed no later than Dec 21st.
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Please see my personal webpage: https://www.gillinsectresearch.com/
The scientific interests of my research group are on a broad scale. Our research generally involves the study of insect responses to environmental stressors to address ecologically applied issues, as well as taking an evolutionary biology approach to understanding trends in ecology. We are particularly interested in how human activities affect insect populations, biodiversity, and function.
We primarily study the effects of how agricultural practices and climate change independently and in combination impact bees. This has involved focusing on how specific factors, such as aspects of habitat loss, chemical applications, and temperature changes can influence individual molecular responses, physiology, behaviour(s) and fitness, and how this scales to shape populations and communities.
Whilst not wedded to a particular study organism/system, social insects have been the focus of our research. Their large and intricate societies exhibit efficient and often complex cooperative behaviours making them not only interesting for the study of animal behaviour, but also a dominant insect group in the environment that provides vital ecosystem functions and crucial ecosystem services important for human welfare.
Another current interest of ours is to understand how we can eavesdrop on pollination signals to reduce pollination deficits and improve the management of pollinator populations.
FACULTY
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
POSITION NAME
- Associate Professor in Evolutionary & Experimental Ecology