Laura Chilver
Vertebrate Palaeontology Group
I am currently studying for an MPhil in the Head Lab under Professor Jason Head, working on the ecological origins of the stem snake Dinilysia patagonica. Exant snakes are known to occupy a diversity of lifestyles spanning fossorial, terrestrial, aquatic, marine and arboreal habitats. The huge diversity and highly derived morphology have long inspired debate about snake ecological and evolutionary origins. Total group snakes (Pan-serpentes) originated on land during the middle early Cretaceous ~128 mya. Until recently, a lack of useful fossil evidence of stem snake fossils made interpretation of ecology, morphology, biogeography and behaviour of ancestral snakes difficult. Phylogenetic analysis has shown Dinilysia patagonica to be the stem sister taxon to crown snakes, representative of the basal condition in snakes.
In my project, I am looking at the evolution of a series of three crests in the middle ear of Dinilysia and a series of extant snake species with known habitats. The morphology crests and surrounding bone morphology have been shown to have a strong correlation with ecology. I am identifying the locations and homologies of these crests to find the most likely basal condition and evolution of these features in snakes. I will use this to test the ecological origins of snakes via the representative basal condition of D. patagonica to place them in fossorial, aquatic or arboreal ecologies based on the morphology of the inner ear and comparative anatomy with similar related taxa with known ecologies.
Conducting this research has only been possible thanks to the support from my supervisor, and the resources, like museum specimens and CT scans, available to me from the lab, the department, my college, and the university more broadly. Besides the technology and specimens provided by the department, I have also been able to attend many training workshops and courses through the university. These have been especially useful for improving my statistical skills and analytical tools. Outside of academic considerations, I also appreciate the strong sense of community found in Zoology – weekly happy hours, wellbeing talks, photography competitions, PhD talks and seminars all help foster a sense of community and facilitate connections among postgraduate students, and the department more broadly.
Sayam Chowdhury
As a conservation biologist, my journey has been defined by a commitment to improve the status of threatened species in Asia and mitigate anthropogenic environmental change. Specializing in migratory shorebirds, my work revolves around developing scientific tools to manage coastal habitats amidst climate change. My academic journey includes completing a Conservation Leadership master's program at the Cambridge Department of Geography, supported by the Chevening scholarship of the UK government. Currently pursuing a PhD in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge on a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, my research involved intensive fieldwork in coastal areas of Asia to improve understanding of the populations and habitat requirements of migratory shorebirds and the factors driving their population decline
s. Through rigorous scientific inquiry, I aim to inform coastal planning decisions and advocate for the conservation of critical habitats.
My experience as a PhD student in the Conservation Science Group at the Department of Zoology, under the supervision of world's top conservation scientists – Professor Andrew Balmford and Professor Rhys Green, has been immensely rewarding. The department has provided me with ample opportunities to explore my potential and has equipped me with useful tools and resources. During my first year, I attended various courses offered by the School of Biological Sciences and the university, which proved instrumental in analysing my data later on. The department also supported my fieldwork by providing seed grants annually.
Engagement with fellow students and postdocs has been invaluable, as discussions with them often led to solutions for research and analysis-related challenges. The supportive and constructive guidance from my supervisors and advisors has been a cornerstone of my PhD journey. Being a part of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) allowed me to interact with professionals in nature conservation organisations, enabling me to understand how my research can be applied to real-world conservation issues. Despite coming from a different cultural background, I found the department to be inclusive and respectful of diverse perspectives, fostering a welcoming environment for everyone.
Daisy Cooper
Marine Behavioural Ecology Group
I am a first year PhD student in the Marine Behavioural Ecology (MBE) Group, working with Dr James Herbert-Read. My research explores the collective foraging behaviour of sandeels (Ammodytes tobianus). Sandeels are fish that bury in the sand to avoid their predators but emerge as
groups to feed in the water column. I am interested in the rules sandeels use to coordinate their decisions to emerge and re-bury. Specifically, I am interested in how both social and environmental factors (such a food availability and predation risk) influence this decision-making process, and whether the rules individual use to achieve such coordination are adaptive.
After completing my final-year undergraduate research project on sandeels in the MBE group, I knew that the Department of Zoology would be a supportive environment that would allow me to explore the research questions I was interested in. Furthermore, the broad range of research that is carried out within the Department, mirrored in the topics of the weekly departmental seminars, allows you to expand your interests beyond your specific field. There are also many opportunities as a graduate student to present your own research to other members of the Department, as well as keep up to date with what other research is going on – for example via the behavioural ecology lunchtime talk series or the Grad tea-talks.
The weekly happy hour allows researchers from different lab groups to exchange ideas, as well as creating a friendly atmosphere within the department. I am funded by a Whitten studentship in aquatic biology and am a member of the Whitten Programme in Tropical and Aquatic Biology. This group (as with other cohorts) meets regularly to socialise and further provides me with a sense of community and support within the Department. A particular strength of the Department is the community of early career researchers who are always happy to give up their time to provide you with guidance and assistance. They are genuinely interested in your work and want to see you succeed.
There are further benefits provided by being a member of the University. For example, the researcher development programme provides a large range of free training opportunities to graduate students. Additionally, the collegiate system allows you to engage with researchers in different disciplines as well as providing opportunities for socializing beyond the Department.
Ashley Hoblyn
I am currently doing an MPhil in the Aquatic Ecology Group under Prof. David Aldridge. My research focuses on the impacts of North American Signal Crayfish on the chalk streams of Cambridgeshire. Chalk streams unique ecosystems found almost exclusively in the south-west and north-east of the United Kingdom. Their clear gravel beds and unique physical and bio-chemical settings provide an optimum medium for a diverse array of fauna and flora including nationally and internationally protected species. The limited geographical range and high conservation value of English chalk strea
ms further heightens their susceptibility to ecosystem change. Invasion by signal crayfish threatens the health of these freshwater systems as their novel aggressive foraging behaviours and burrowing activities commonly result in the displacement of native crayfish, high declines of invertebrate and macrophyte densities, and changes in abiotic and biotic parameters such as increased concentrations of suspended sediment. I am specifically looking at the effects of signal crayfish populations on macroinvertebrate and macrophyte diversity and community structure. To achieve this, David and I planned, coordinated, and executed two rounds of fieldwork in two chalk streams of Cambridgeshire with the aim to have two complete chapters for my thesis.
I really appreciated the sense of community in the Zoology Department. With the many social events organized by the department and student representatives, you have several opportunities to surround yourself with a diverse group of researchers. The department also constantly publicises new opportunities, such as training courses, placements, academic support, and funding opportunities. Choosing Cambridge Zoology Department for your MPhil studies promises not only a rigorous academic training, but also a supportive and vibrant community that will make your time here enjoyable and valuable.
Godspower Major
I am currently studying an MPhil in the insect ecology research group under Prof. Edgar Turner. The group’s research is broadly focused on developing sustainable agriculture strategies in oil palm plantations in Southeast Asia and understanding how insect fauna, particularly Lepidopterans: Moths and Butterflies, adapt to climate change, rising temperatures and habitat changes. Through large-scale experimental ecological research, various PhD students and post-doctoral fellows in the Insect ecology group have successfully tested and developed restorative strategies to help improve biodiversity within oil palm plantations in tropical Southeast Asia, which is pivotal in shaping the sustainability approach in perineal tropical agriculture.
My project is focused on understanding the pest control services provided by restored riparian margins and experimental buffer systems within an industrial oil palm plantation in Riau Province, Sumatra in Southeast Asia. I am investigating the abundance of predatory insects such as Odonates: Dragonflies, Damselflies, Assassin bugs: Cosmolestes sp., Arachnida: Spiders and Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) and two common pest species of oil palm the Nettle caterpillars (Limacodidae) and Bagworms (Psychidae). My research aims to understand if restoring riparian margins can provide pest management services in the long run.
The MPhil course structure is well-tailored and provides a support base for students through seminars, talks, workshops, training, and well-being sessions thus providing a conducive academic environment to grow. My research skills have tremendously improved, and with support from my supervisor, group members and other members of the department, I have successfully carried out fieldwork studies In oil palm plantations in Indonesia. This experience has helped me to develop core applied ecological skills required to access ecosystem health, functions and biodiversity, which are vital skills for my career development. This was possible because of the immense support that I have received from the Department of Zoology.
The Department is well connected with the Cambridge Museum of Zoology and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative which has provided me with several opportunities to volunteer and network with scientists from diverse backgrounds. As an international student, I feel very welcomed in my department and within the University of Cambridge. The student community is a microcosm of the world and a melting pot of cultures, and this has motivated me to pursue my goals and passions with renewed zeal. It has been a wonderful experience, one I will forever value.