PhD Studentship : Integrated Advanced Spatial Modelling of Forest 
Development (ref no. EPSAM 2008-02)

School of Physical and Geographical Sciences and School of Life Sciences
Keele University, U.K. (http://www.keele.ac.uk)

This fully funded, three-year, full-time PhD studentship is available 
from October 2008 (start date negotiable) involving the development of 
sophisticated, locally adaptable forest development simulation tools 
through the integration of non-invasive, bio-geophysical investigation 
techniques. The successful candidate will work with Dr Nigel Cassidy in 
the School of Physical and Geographic Sciences and Dr Sarah L. Taylor 
and Dr Peter A. Thomas in the School of Life Sciences. There will also 
be the opportunity to collaborate with Dr Barry Gardiner of Forest 
Research.

The successful candidate will receive a £12,900 per year stipend and 
have all University fees paid. Due to funding restrictions, the 
studentship is only open to UK nationals and EU citizens.

The closing date for applications is 31st OCTOBER 2008

Project Background:
Current forest development models are generally restricted to the 
simulation of growth at the forest-scale with little capacity for the 
inclusion of local-scale spatial variations and/or temporal changes in 
environmental conditions (e.g., near-surface geology, hydrology, extreme 
climatic events, changes in prevailing wind direction, etc).  These 
factors can have a significant influence on the growth and yield of a 
forest. The aim of the PhD project is to create a more sophisticated, 
advanced numerical modelling scheme that is capable of including these 
localised effects in a generic, yet practical, way.  Non-invasive 
geophysical methods, such as ground penetrating radar, electrical 
resistivity tomography, etc., will be used to assess, characterise and 
monitor temporal/spatial variations in both the near-surface 
environmental conditions and the internal architecture of selected trees 
(from known natural and commercial forestry developments).  The 
geophysical data will be used to provide realistic and validated inputs 
into a new generic, yet locally adaptable, model of forest growth, yield 
and sustainability.

Applicants should have a background in the Physical and/or Natural 
Sciences (BSc or equivalent), strong mathematical/numerical skills, GIS 
expertise, and ideally experience generating numerical and/or analytical 
models.

For an informal discussion about the studentship, please contact Dr 
Nigel Cassidy ([log in to unmask] or 01782-733180) or Dr Sarah 
L. Taylor ([log in to unmask] or 01782-733025). For 
administrative enquiries, please contact Shirley Courthold 
([log in to unmask] or 01782-733175).

In order to be considered for a studentship you must complete an 
application form for PhD study and an additional studentship application 
form quoting the reference above.

Full details of application procedures are on the Keele website 
www.keele.ac.uk/gradschool or contact The Graduate School for an 
application pack (Graduate School, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 
5AZ  tel: 01782 734368, email: [log in to unmask] )