Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided:You will initially be trained by myself alongside our Data Science PDRA. Further day-to-day AI support to be provided by our Data Science PDRA and will be your main point of contact on a daily basis, while out Animal Scientist PDRA and Project Manager will assist with logistics and research on the farm.

Supervision style: Directive support: C / Training structure: 6

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a week

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: John Oldacre Centre Artificial Intelligence group meetings happen weekly on Thursday mornings, this is an interdisciplinary forum open to all researchers and investigators on dairy cattle monitoring projects (approx 8 investigators, 5 PDRAs, 8 PhD students). Farm Animal Discussion Group meetings happen weekly on Thursday afternoon, this is an interdisciplinary forum open to Langford Vets and researchers working with ruminant livestock. There is a regular seminar series in Bristol Veterinary School.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once per week; mixture of virtual and in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): I do not expect a defined work pattern unless there is some necessity such as collaborative or on-farm working.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: The second supervisor will participate in regular meetings at least every month and provide support and assistance to the student as required according to their research process.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: Available to e-mail every day. I may contact you outside of working hours but I do not expect responses outside working hours. Non-regular meetings will need to be arranged in advance

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: Day-to-day research training will be provided by the supervisory team and their research group members (e.g. post-docs and other PhD students). This will be complemented by the sharing of expertise within the wider Centre for Ecology & Conservation research community (e.g. office mates, experts in other teams) and by more intensive internal and external training courses in specialised skills. Supervisors will be available for regular discussion and support as required (see below).

Supervision style: Directive support: B / Training structure: 7

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a week

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: Students will join the regular research group meetings of both the main and second supervisors, offering exposure to additional mentors and peer support and opportunities to expand academic contact networks. The department also has multiple weekly discussion groups and journal clubs led by PhD students and ECRs (e.g. Behaviour discussion group & Quantitative Genetics club), providing a supportive environment in which to discuss research more broadly and foster collaborations. There are also weekly PhD seminars when students have an opportunity to present their work to the wider department.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once a fortnight; mixture of virtual and in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): A standard pattern of working would involve on campus work during normal working hours, five days a week, but flexible working is certainly possible (e.g. working from home at times and working outside core hours). All meetings will be held within core hours, in person where possible (though remote engagement with the CASE partner will often need to be online).

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: The student will join the second supervisor’s research group too, given the benefits this affords (see above), and will conduct their second rotation project in that setting. Meetings between the student and both Exeter supervisors will also occur regularly, and whole-team meetings (involving the CASE partner supervisor too) will occur at least once every 2 months; more frequently at times of project and/or fieldwork planning.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: I am available for contact via e-mail, phone or a pre-arranged Teams chat every working day, but not all weekends and evenings. I may send emails outside of working hours (as I do sometimes work odd hours to fit work around family), but I do not expect anyone to respond outside of working hours. Both supervisors are also happy for students to drop by our offices for a chat. We will often be best placed to help if we arrange meetings in advance (as this gives us a chance to prepare), but we recognise that this isn’t always practical.

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: You will initially be trained by Prof Bebber, with support in experimental procedures from Dr Fones. Field visits will be managed by Prof Hammond-Kosack, Dr Ghori and others at Rothamsted Research. Your support requirements may vary but we find that regular weekly or fortnightly catch-up meetings are beneficial for most students.

Supervision style: Directive support: D / Training structure: 7

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a fortnight

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: We hold fortnightly plant pathology meetings in the Department of Biosciences at Exeter. This is an opportunity to connect with other researchers in the field and keep abreast of developments in the Department. At Rothamsted the wheat pathogenomics team (WPT) holds a weekly joint 1. 5 hour lab meeting and a monthly joint 1 hour journal club which brings together all the members of the Fusarium-wheat group led by KHK, the Zymoseptoria-wheat group led by Jason Rudd, the Take-all-wheat group led by Nida Ghori.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once a fortnight; mixture of virtual and in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): We expect students to work core hours (10-4) with other time to be managed around this. In some cases, e.g. during fieldwork or when particular experiments are running, evening and weekend working will be required. Based on local equipment and growth room availability some rotation of work patterns around other research team members will be necessary. The availability of growth room facilities is based on a central booking system and may require rota work with others at Rothamsted.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: Meeting between both supervisors every 4-8 weeks depending on project stage, student to spend substantial time during PhD with second supervisors' research group including for the second rotation project.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: Available to e-mail every day with replies normally within 1 days but up to 5 days depending on other commitments (e.g. travel). I may contact you outside of working hours but I do not expect responses outside working hours. Meetings will need to be arranged in advance, preferably regular meetings every week or fortnight.

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided:You will initially be trained by Dana MacGregor, working within the Weed Molecular Biology teams, supported by staff from Laboratory Support and Horticultural & Controlled Environment teams when and if applicable. Day-to-day experimental support will be provided by all supervisors or members of their teams as appropriate.

Supervision style: Directive support: C / Training structure: 6

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a fortnight

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with:

The student will be fully embedded at Rothamsted within the Weed Molecular Biology team in the Protecting Crops and the Environment section. We work within an open plan office and laboratory space, sharing materials, methods, and machinery with many other groups. You will also be tightly associated with Sustainable Soils and Crops section and will receive training and guidance in laboratory and bioinformatics techniques where appropriate from a full-time technician in SP’s research group. Therefore, there is ample opportunity for the student to interact with a diverse range of talented researchers working on various aspects of Weed or Wheat Biology. Students will also participate in activities organized through the ISPs providing opportunities to interact with researchers at other institutions.

Rothamsted’s different research groups are integrated across institutional programmes providing opportunities for interactions with diverse researchers. Students at Rothamsted present their research in an annual student symposium and will be encouraged to participate in other institutional activities such as journal clubs and informal training sessions.

The Milner Centre at University of Bath hosts 2 plant science, and 5 genomics PhDs. JC has recently been awarded a BBSRC sLoLa grant (beginning Jan 2025), which will employ a PDRA focussed on plant genomics. This will also allow students to interact with a broader genomics network including the Universities of Edinburgh, Bristol and Oxford and Kew Gardens. Bath have recently appointed Prof Turi King as director of the Milner Centre – she is very well connected with media and outreach schemes and has begun to initiate links with the BBC. So, the student would have the potential to create multimedia and educational content for a national audience.

At Syngenta, the Student will work within the Weed Control Research Biology Team at Jealott’s Hill and have the opportunity to interact with Syngenta colleagues across a wide range of disciplines on the campus, including biochemistry, molecular biology, agronomy, microscopy, horticulture, biostatistics, bioinformatics as well as analytical and synthetic chemistry. Syngenta has a community of PhD students and an annual event for them to present their work and network with other students and academics.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once per week; in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): As a manager I prefer that the work is completed rather than hours accounted for. Much of the work will be hands-on and require regular maintenance therefore, it is expected that the student is present in the laboratory / glasshouse during the core hours of 10:00 to 16:00 and additional hours to make up a standard working week of 37 hours. However the nature of plant-pathogen work means that additional evening and weekend time may be required in order to ensure smooth running and completion of the project.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: They will support the student in monthly project progress meetings and provide ongoing guidance in bioinformatics and molecular biology experiments during the project with the support of other lab members.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: I have an Open Door policy and when not travelling is regularly in the office Monday – Friday for at least the core hours of 10:00 to 16:00. I am open and honest with my working time, ensuring that work calendars are up-to-date, accessible and available for colleagues to put meetings into. Although there are times when I cannot be disturbed, if approached when unavailable, I ensure time is made to trouble-shoot and problem-solve as quickly as possible.

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: You will initially be trained by me and the second supervisor. Training in modelling and simulation will be overseen by Prof Mulholland and me; experimental aspects will be covered by Dr Phillips (protein expression, HDX MS), Dr Dodson and me (fluorescence spectroscopy), with additional support provided by a post-doctoral researcher and a research assistant with seven years’ experience. Day-to-day support will be provided by me, the second supervisor, the groups, and the other co-supervisors, as required. The Kattnig and Phillips groups are highly supportive and have a culture of cross-training and supporting each other in lab and computational skills.

Supervision style: Directive support: B / Training structure: 5

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a fortnight

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: The Phillips and Kattnig lab have a weekly joined group meeting focusing on experimental cryptochrome research. We hold regular online meeting with the discoverers of the cryptochrome CT-effect at Manchester (Prof. Baines), Leicester (Profs. Kyriacou and Rosato) and the NPL (Dr Jones) and have a consortium meeting once to twice a year. Opportunities exist to visit the labs of collaborators. The Kattnig lab further has a joint biweekly meeting with the Vollmer lab focusing on biophoton emission and, importantly, cryptochrome biophysics, as studied on the single molecule level. We furthermore collaborate with the DTP on Quantum Biology at Surrey and the Solov’yov lab at Oldenburg, holding meetings as dictated by current demand (approximately monthly).

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once a fortnight; in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): Experiments are to be carried out during core hours. Beyond this constraint, I do not stipulate a “working pattern”, but commitment and a feeling of responsibility for the project are expected. Most of our team members are present throughout core hours, and thus being engaged with the team requires a certain level of mutual alignment. However, much of the theoretical work can be conducted remotely and I want everybody to work when they feel at their best – delivery of excellent research is the priority. Ultimately, flexibility can be accommodated where needed, in particular after the student has become “self-sufficient”.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: For this project, the second supervisor will assume an active supporting role, in particular in relation to the experimental work. You will be fully part of both my group and that of the second supervisor, including all aspects of group-life and research, such as lab space, equipment, collaborations, chores etc. You will attend weekly group meetings of both groups, a dedicated weekly project meeting between the three of us, and regular meetings with the wider consortium.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: I operate an open-door policy and, in addition to scheduled meetings, you are welcome to drop in whenever needed. I will always be available on email and Microsoft Teams. I may contact you outside of working hours, but I do not expect responses outside working hours. If you prefer the additional structure that it provides, you are welcome to arrange a fixed additional meeting slot (e.g. weekly or daily). You will be embedded within my and the second supervisor’s lab groups, and the second supervisor will too be available for (in-person) advice and help.

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: You will initially be trained by me alongside postdocs and experienced PhD students in my team and also by the second supervisors and their teams. You will also be supported on specific techniques by other members of the wider research groups and by technical staff within the research facilities and laboratories.

Supervision style: Directive support: B / Training structure: 8

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a week

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: Besides my group meetings, we have a seminar and discussion series for research groups in aquatic and environmental biology (as part of the Healthy and Sustainable Environments research theme) which runs every two weeks during term time. You will be encouraged to engage with the PhD activities within Biosciences and the LSI and to engage with wider seminar series in the department, and especially within LSI and the Cells research theme.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once a fortnight; mixture of virtual and in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): Work hours will be flexible and students are encouraged to work on campus but hybrid options are also possible. Core hours (9:30 to 3:30) should be adhered to as much as possible to ensure interactions with other researchers.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: We expect to meet with all supervisors at least every two months. The student will be encouraged to engage with group meetings on a regular basis to embed themselves as much as possible within the extended teams of the supervisors, maximising opportunities to develop knowledge and peer support.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: Available to e-mail or communications via teams every day. We may contact you outside working hours but we do not expect you to reply until you are at work. Meetings generally need to be arranged in advance due to busy calendars but you are welcome to contact us at any time for a short discussion.

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: You will be trained in general microbiology/plant research and lab safety by me, our lab manager and our research technician, in the first instance. Support with day-to-day experiments will be provided by all members of the team (me, PDRF, Technician) and lab technical team as appropriate. Your main point of contact will be me. Further specific training will be provided by Dr Neil Brown (Fusarium techniques and mycotoxin measurements) and Prof Dan Bebber (R-based coding for disease modelling).

Supervision style: Directive support: C / Training structure: 7

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a fortnight

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: My group attends ‘Mezz’ (Exeter Biosciences plant science lab) and ‘Green group’ (wider plant research at Exeter) meetings and participates in the Microbes and Disease Research Theme and the cross campus ‘Microbes and Society’ group. The student will also be able to attend meetings with Prof Dan Bebber's group in Exeter and will attend Dr Neil Brown's lab meetings while in Bath.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once a fortnight; in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): At least within core hours (10-4) and other time to be managed around this. Due to the nature of the research, there may be some weekend and evening working. Flexible working from home will be possible when appropriate, for example during writing and data analysis, if desired.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: A joint meeting with both supervisors will take place on average every 3 months (higher frequency at start of project, and likely lower in last experimental phase); the student will spend time with the second supervisor's research group, in particular during the rotation project hosted there but also at other times when indicating by training requirements. Input into writing of papers for publication / the student's thesis will also be provided by the second supervisor.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: Available to e-mail/Teams every day. I work from home approx. 2 days per week, when hands-on support will be provided by the wider team or I can be reached for video call. I may contact you outside of working hours, but I do not expect responses outside working hours. Lengthy meetings will need to be arranged in advance, but brief informal meetings are always possible. I share an office, so we may need to relocate for meetings at times.

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: Initial lab training provided by myself alongside current members of my group; I will be your main point of contact throughout. Bioinformatic training provided by myself with support from other members of the supervisory team and collaborators. Field work training provided by staff at Edward Vinson.

Supervision style: Directive support: B / Training structure: 7

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a week

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with:

• Joint weekly lab meetings with groups of Dr Degraaf (plant reproduction)and Dr Muller (chemical analyses)
• Opportunities to visit/use equipment in large plant science lab comprising Dr Scofield (second local supervisor), Dr Lechon, Prof Murray and Dr DeWitte (plant cell division and molecular control of plant development)
• Joint monthly meetings with all plant scientists at Cardiff (Plants@Cardiff group) and with Molecular Biosciences division staff and PG students
• Shared lab and office area with four other Molecular Biosciences groups
• Online interaction with members of Dr Hans-Wilhelm Nuetzmann’s team and Edward Vinson supervisors

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once a fortnight; mixture of virtual and in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): Cardiff: Flexible working pattern to suit student and by individual agreement– 24/7 access is available if needed. Only restrictions are if being trained in which case hours are by arrangement with trainer. Lone working is possible but discouraged. Edward Vinson: working pattern may be less flexible.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: Online monthly meetings At least 6-monthly in person exchange visits. More frequent visits to second supervisor lab during first rotation and by arrangement throughout project if needed.

Notice needed for feedback (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: Available in my office typically from 10am-6pm Mon-Friday -knock on my door anytime for a short meeting. For longer meetings arrange by email – I typically check email all the time during the working week. For very urgent issues when off site, we use WhatsApp. I may email at odd hours but do not expect an instant response.

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: You will be introduced to the project by myself (main supervisor) and Prof Christiane Schaffitzel (second supervisor) and then trained in the key technologies required by highly experienced personnel (post-docs, fellow PhD students, lab managers) in my group. Specialist training e.g. in Cryo-EM will be provided by Prof Schaffitzel and members of her team with whom my lab share a floor and works closely together. Specialist training in ADDomer technology for vaccine development will be provided by the Berger and Schaffitzel labs and by highly qualified personnel at Imophoron (Fred Garzoni, industrial supervisor, Paul Hole and Kapil Gupta) and Adam Finn, also part of the supervisory team, director of the Pfizer Bristol Vaccine Excellence Centre. Day-to-day experimental support will be provided throughout the project by experienced post-docs and PhD students in the groups.

Supervision style: Directive support: C / Training structure: 6

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a fortnight

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: Our team has joint weekly meetings with the team of Prof Christiane Schaffitzel focusing on protein biochemistry, biophysics and Cryo-EM, and bi-weekly meetings with Prof Mark Dillingham's group focusing molecular biology techniques and protein interactions. Monthly meetings are held with the Innovative Future Vaccine Manufacturing and Research Hub partners, a large UKRI/DHSC funded consortium to tackle vaccine challenges in Low and Middle Income countreis (LMICs). Bi-monthly meetings are held with the partners in the Bristol UNCOVER group, established during the COVID-19 pandemic, discussing aspects of infectious disease and vaccine development. Ad hoc meetings are held with Anu Goenke's and Adrian Mulholland's group and also with the Max Planck colleagues at three Max Planck Institutes in Germany who are affiliated with the Max Planck-Bristol Centre directed by Berger. Personnel is frequently exchanged between the labs, and there is the opportunity to be physically based in their labs when undertaking aspects of the PhD project aligned with their research areas and technological skill-sets. Moreover, the student will interact frequently with the research team at Imophoron Ltd, located in Bristol at Science Creates.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): Varies year to year as studentship progresses; in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): Within core hours (10-4) and other time to be managed around this. Some rota work with other members of the research group as the need arises due to the techniques acquired. Due to the nature of the research (baculovirus/insect cell expression), there may be some limited weekend and evening working which is arranged with other members in the team.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: Schaffitzel (second supervisor) and myself have been fruitfully collaborating for the last 20+ years. The ADDomer nanoparticle is their jopint discovery. Schaffitzel would expect to have a meeting with the student on a bi-weekly basis and for the student to spend a significant time working with her group. A meeting between the student, both academic supervisors and the industrial supervisor (Garzoni) would take place once every month. Additional ad hoc meetings, including with collaborators and other members of the supervisory team (Finn, Mulholland, Goenke, Hole, Gupta) would take place as the need arises.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): < 1 week

Communication: I am available to e-mail every day and in person always when I am in Bristol (open door policy). I may contact the student outside of working hours per e-mail, but do not expect responses outside working hours. Project meetings ideally are arranged in advance, but can be ad-hoc if needed anytime. Always welcome to drop in if the office door is open (which is most of the time).

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: In-house, hands-on training will be provided in the generation of experimental and molecular data by myself and other supervisors, supported by our network of existing PhD and postdocs as well as the Cardiff School of Bioscience Genome Research Hub (https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research-equipment/facilities/view/genomics-research-hub). Training in the analysis of related bioinformatic and statistical data will be provided. All training components will be organised in to stages in accordance with the student’s needs and availability.

Supervision style: Directive support: B / Training structure: 5

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a week

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: The supervisory team currently supervise 20 PhD students (across the 3 institutions) who all network and provide a supportive cohort.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): Significantly varies depending on the student; mixture of virtual and in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): The student would ideally work around the core hours of 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday. Some work will be required at weekends to check on/maintain fish labs (for which there is rota involving a numbers of students/post-docs) and some experiments might require longer hours, in which case the student might work short hours at other times of the year.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: Meeting with both supervisors every week

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: I am available to email/message every day (unless on AL), experienced supervisor of those with caring responsibilities who work atypical hours.

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: Health and Safety training will be provided at Rothamsted. Training in essential lab skills will be provided by the supervisory team. Day-to-day experimental support will be provided by the PDRA of the main Rothamsted supervisor, who will also be the main point of contact on a daily basis.

Supervision style: Directive support: E / Training structure: 6

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a week

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: There is a weekly meeting at Rothamsted focussing on soil science, which will be very useful for the student to take part in. It is an excellent opportunity to learn about lab- and field-scale soil processes. The weekly chemical ecology group meetings cover a broad range of subjects, and lab members are very approachable and helpful.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once a week; mixture of virtual and in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): At least within core hours (10-4) and other time to be managed around this. Some rota work with other members of the research group. Due to the nature of the research, there may be some weekend and evening working.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: Meeting between both supervisors every month. The student will spend a substantial amount of time during the PhD with the academic supervisors' research group.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: Available to e-mail every day. I have odd working hours but there will be a member of the team you can e-mail every day. I may contact you outside of working hours but I do not expect responses outside working hours. Meetings will need to be arranged in advance. Welcome to drop in if my door is open, but encourage a meeting to be arranged first (even if for later that day).

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: You will work alongside a BBSRC-funded PDRA who will provide initial lab training. You will have weekly 1:1 meetings with me to discuss experimental design/data analysis and weekly group meetings to present and discuss your work with the wider group. I am available for additional meetings if required, either online or in person. You will also have the opportunity to attend weekly plant development meetings with Jim Fouracre's group.

Supervision style: Directive support: C / Training structure: 7

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a week

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with:We (Franklin and Fouracre) share a lab with 5 other plant science research groups (Patrick Dickinson, Claire Grierson, Jill Harrison, Imogen Sparkes, Ashley Pridgeon) and have joint lab meetings with the lab of Dr. Ashley Pridgeon (Leverhulme research fellow working on light-regulation of stomatal function).

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once per week; mixture of virtual and in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): This is flexible, but core hours (10-4) would facilitate training and mixing with other lab members. Time course experiments may require occasional weekend and evening working.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: We will meet every 2 months to discuss project progress. The second supervisor will supervise rotation project 2. We share a large plant science lab so research groups mix daily.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: I check email every weekday (except while on annual leave) and try to reply within 48 hours. I usually work in the Life Sciences Building Monday-Thursday and am happy for drop in meetings if my door is open. I would, however, need to schedule a timeslot if a long discussion is required (except in an emergency).

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: The student will be initially trained by the main supervisor in the core skills of microbiology and fluxomics. Further day to day experimental support will be provided by the postdoc who is a main point of contact daily in the lab. The student will be trained in any specialist equipment in the lab by the lab manager and the technical staff.

Supervision style: Directive support: A / Training structure: 10

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a week

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: The student will be able to interact with the research group of Prof James Wakefield (second
supervisor), who we will meet fortnightly. In addition to the supervisory team, the student will be able to meet and interact with PGRs from Dr Steve Porter's lab, Dr Ben Temperton's lab, Dr Stephano Pagliara's lab, Dr Vicki Gold's lab, Dr Steve Michell's lab, Dr Toby Bergmiller's lab in the weekly 4th floor lab meeting held every week in GP building, Biosciences, LSI, Exeter. There are regular seminars in the life sciences institute encompassing diverse scientific talks where the student can meet and interact PGRs from across the department.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once a week; mixture of virtual and in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): The student will be expected to conduct research activities in the lab or literature work within the core hours (10am to 4pm) and other times to be managed around the hours if needed. There will be some rotational work with other members of the research group in presenting the work in lab meetings, leading journal club and general lab work. Weekend and evening works are not expected, but there may be some in case of meeting some timelines/deadlines such as for publishing.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: The student will meet the second supervisor's team fortnightly in a joint lab meeting to discuss the work, techniques, results and support needed. In addition to the rotation project with the second supervisor, the student will spend time with the second supervisor's team at least in the first few months to develop and optimise metabolomic analyses.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: The main supervisor is the main point of contact for the project and will be available to email and communicate every day. There will be a member of the team that the student can e-mail every
day. The main supervisor may contact you outside of working hours but no responses expected outside of working hours. Meetings are encouraged to be arranged in advance with the supervisor. The student is welcome to drop in the supervisor's office when the door is open and if the supervisor is available.

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: You will be fully integrated in my lab's activities from the outset. You will receive training in culturing and laboratory skills from research assistants and other experimental scientists in the group. Similarly, you will work with postdocs with theoretical/computational backgrounds to improve your quantitative/coding/modelling skills. I will be your main point of contact during your studies. Should any technical problems arise you can contact any of the supervisor team, or any of the other group members. We hold weekly lab meetings which provides a relaxed, informal forum for students to discuss their progress in a group setting.

Supervision style: Directive support: B / Training structure: 7

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a fortnight

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with:

The student will be based in the living systems institute which already features a great deal of collaborative activities across disciplines. Not only will they interact with other members of our group they will also have plenty of opportunities to interact with the wider Physics of Life themed research groups at the LSI. We also collaborate closely with biologist (e.g. Gaspar Jekely and Elizabeth Williams) and will hold joint lab-meetings, fieldwork or retreats from time to time. They are also expected to attend the weekly LSI research seminars which features presentations from a variety of research groups.

Secondly the student will access the wider community of researchers based in my home department (mathematics), they will have be able to attend weekly reading/discussion groups on mathematical biology, as well as a wider weekly departmental seminar on dynamical systems theory, again adding value to this highly interdisciplinary project.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once a fortnight; in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): Students are expected to be on campus during core working hours unless agreed otherwise. This is to ensure that they can be fully integrated within the research culture and environment of the institute, and also experience the benefits of working in a highly collaborative interdisciplinary institute.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: Meetings with all members of the supervisory team will happen every 2-3 weeks, ideally in person.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: PGR students are free to contact the main supervisor via email or MS Teams at all times. I may respond outside of core working hours but they are not expected to reply outside of their own working hours. Regular meetings are generally arranged in advance, e.g. same day/time in the week, however they are welcome to drop by my office for an impromptu meeting or discussion at any time.

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: You will work closely with the supervisors and their reserch groups, receive training with them personally and other members of the group and dedicated technicians. This includes further day-to-day experimental support that will be planned and shared depending on tasks, collaborative involvement of other students and staff. Both supervisor labs are supported by dedicated and experienced technicians who in addition to postdocs who will be also a main point of contact on a daily basis. In addition to scheduled regular meetings with both supervisors, we are also committed to supporting you through demanding points in the project, during which we will discuss with you the best ways of keeping in close contact.

Supervision style: Directive support: C / Training structure: 3

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a fortnight

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: We have frequent and regular contact and joint meetings across the year with the CASE partner and collaborator's group, in person and online. We also use shared online work platforms and chat spaces (Slack). There is opportunity to be physically based in their lab when undertaking aspects of your PhD aligned with their research area, for example developing materials and setups for experimental or physiological work, undertaking measurements using their facilities and equipment, testing ideas.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once a fortnight; Mixture of virtual/in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): At least within core hours (10-4) and other time to be managed around this. Due to the nature of the research (seasonally- dependent data collection, field work, experimental conditions, bee availability), there may be some weekend and evening working. Some not-extensive rota work shared with other members of the research group/technical services for bee maintenance.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: We will schedule regular meetings with both supervisors every 2 months, during intensive periods of work additional meetings might happen. We will assess this with the student on a regular basis. Student will spend time during the PhD with the second supervisor's group.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: Available to e-mail every working day, but not all weekends/evenings. I have odd working hours but there will be members of the team you can copy in and/or e-mail individually, depending on urgency/nature of enquiry. I may contact you outside of working hours but I do not expect responses outside working hours. Meetings will need to be arranged in advance. Welcome to drop in if urgent but consider that I share my office with another member of academic staff. I'd encourage a meeting to be arranged first (even if for later that day).

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided: Day-to-day research training and support will be provided by the main supervisor and a postdoc in the lab. This will be catered for the individual student’s needs with a goal of greater independence as more experience and skills are gained.

Supervision style: Directive support: C / Training structure: 7

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a week

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: In addition to regular meetings and opportunity to join group meetings with the second supervisor Prof Emma Robinson’s lab, we also have joint weekly meetings with Prof Matt Jones’ lab with overlapping interests in sleep and memory processing. Flexibility and independence for the student to drive their project is encouraged, and collaborations with other research groups are expected throughout the project.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once a week; mixture of virtual and in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): While generally full working days are expected (around 35-40 hours per week), there will be flexibility in the timing of this work based on both the student and experimental needs. Due to the nature of the research, there will be occasional weekend work required (e.g. for animal health checks or training animals on tasks).

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: The second supervisor will be involved across all parts of this project including meetings with both supervisors every 2 months, a rotation project in the second supervisor’s lab, and access to regular group meetings and resources across both labs.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: The main supervisor will be available to e-mail every day with drop in meetings in their office welcome and more formal weekly meetings arranged in advance.

Research Group website >>

How day-to-day research training and support is provided:You will initially be trained by me alongside the other supervisors in the research skills you need for your project. Further day-to-day support will be provided by our post-docs, other postgraduate students and research support staff.

Supervision style: Directive support: C / Training structure: 5

How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a fortnight

Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: Our PhD students have opportunity to interact with various research communities within Bristol Veterinary School. We hold joint weekly lab meetings with the other researchers in the Animal Welfare and Behaviour community, and Farm Animal Discussion Group meetings with farm animal vets and researchers. You can also to join bi-weekly Infection, Inflammation and Immunotherapy meetings. There is opportunity to be physically based in a shared working space with students, post-docs and academics working on topics aligned with your project research area.

How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once a fortnight; mixture of virtual and in person.

Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): No expectation of a defined pattern except for aligning with research community activities and others' availability for meetings.

How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: Scheduled meeting with the supervisory team at least fortnightly. Ad-hoc meetings as needed.

Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks

Communication: Available to e-mail every day. Most communication will be inside of working hours. I do not expect responses outside working hours unless in emergency. Meetings will need to be arranged in advance. Welcome to drop in if my door is open, but encourage a meeting to be arranged first due to high numbers of meetings during the average work day.