Join Us
Join Our Research Team
We welcome enquiries from postdoctoral researchers with existing funding or a robust plan for securing it.
We are currently unable to accept PhD applications due to supervisor capacity. We look forward to welcoming PhD requests again in 2026. Find guidance on how to apply for a PhD and funding below.
Each year we supervise 1-2 Oxford Master’s students, but are not able to supervise external Master’s students.
Opportunities
Executive Education and Administrative Assistant
We are seeking an Executive Education and Administrative Assistant to coordinate our flagship Executive Education online course, support our director, and provide essential administrative services to the team. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research and policy engagement.
This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a dynamic and friendly team, working on cutting edge global research and policy engagement to improve outcomes for climate, biodiversity and people. You will coordinate and ensure the successful running of the Executive Education course which aims to embed knowledge and evidence of Nature Based solutions in professional practice, and play a pivotal and varied role in supporting the NbSI director and team to generate global impact.
This post is full time (although applications to work 80% of full time are welcome) and available immediately.
Find out more and apply here.
Application deadline: 12 noon Friday 8th August 2025
No other vacancies currently available.
Funding and Application Guidance
Postdocs
Various Oxford Colleges have Junior Research Fellowship positions, which can be found in the University Gazette. Fellowship schemes from NERC, ESRC, the Royal Society can provide substantial funding, as can Marie Curie fellowships which allow people to come from locations outside the UK.
PhD Students
We welcome enquiries from prospective DPhil students interested in joining the Nature-based Solutions Initiative in October 2026. At this stage, we are able to consider applicants whose research interests align with the following themes:
(1) Climate–biodiversity synergies and food/agricultural security (supervised by Dr Jen Lucey)
(2) Nature connection and nature-positive behaviour (supervised by Professor Nathalie Seddon)
Projects will often be co-supervised with people from other disciplines, with stakeholders identifying research questions, developing methods and delivering impact. Details about the application process are found here. The main source of funding for PhD projects is through the NERC DTP scheme. Further information on Oxford funding, including the various graduate scholarship schemes can be found here.
Deadlines for application generally fall in January/February. If you are passionate about contributing to research that aligns with one of the themes above, please get in touch with Lila.Stewart-Roberts@biology.ox.ac.uk well in advance of the deadline.