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Our lab is based at the University of Exeter (Penryn Campus, Cornwall).

PhD and Post-Doc Opportunities

If you’re interested in working in the lab as a postdoc or associated research fellow, please get in touch, I’m very happy to discuss ideas and support applications.  There are various funding schemes available, information about some of these and support from the centre is available here but please don’t hesitate to ask about potential options.

If you’re looking for a PhD (or keen to do a Masters), then send an email with your CV and a one-side covering letter that explains your background and interests in science (1/3), your previous research experience (1/3) and an outline of the work you would like to undertake, tying this in to the work we already do (1/3). Deadlines for applications are generally in the Autumn to start the following September.

Masters projects

If you would like to do a MSc, MSci or MbyRes project in the lab please get in touch. I teach on several of the fantastic MSc courses run in the department.

Undergraduate student summer projects

If you would like to do a summer project in the lab, please get in touch. Summer studentships can be funded by applying for a stipend (e.g. from the Genetics Society, Wellcome Trust or a heap of other societies).

Life in the lab

If you would like to come and work in the lab you should be excited, passionate, focused and enthusiastic about doing good science, and want to work in a collaborative, supportive, friendly, inclusive and sociable group. From my perspective, the most fun people to work with have their own ideas, and want to develop projects following their own interests. Liking good music, good food, vast quantities of tea, being outdoors and going to the beach is beneficial but not essential! Falmouth has been named one of the top places to live in the UK.

Biosciences at Exeter is an excellent research environment, and includes a range of researchers working on various aspects of evolution and ecology, including a large number of groups working on host-parasite interactions. Some information on the departments commitment to inclusivity can be found here. The university is a DORA signatory and Ben is a member of the University’s responsible metrics group. As a group we value research for its own merit, rather than where it was published.