Zoology, Evolution, Behaviour: Fully Funded PhD Studentship on Intergroup conflict and the evolution of animal societies: the role of scent communication and the microbiome (RS810)

Funding providers: UKRI grant and Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University  

Subject areas: Zoology, Evolution, Behaviour, Communication 

Project start dates: 1 October 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-September) 

Supervisors:  

Dr Hazel Nichols, Swansea University 

Dr Tamsyn Uren-Webster, Swansea University 

Prof Mike Cant, University of Exeter 

Aligned programme of study:  PhD in Biological Sciences 

Mode of study: Full-time 

Project description: 

Are you interested in the mechanisms underlying animal social behaviour? If so, this PhD may be for you. 

A major goal of evolutionary biology is to understand how cooperation and teamwork can evolve in the face of selection for self-interest. Classic research on this question has shown that factors that operate within the group, such as kinship and reciprocity, can select for altruism. Yet there is now substantial evidence from humans and other social animals that interactions between groups (such as intergroup conflict) can also exert a profound influence on social behaviour. 

Interactions between individuals and social groups require communication, however we have relatively poor understanding of the mechanisms underlying communication and how they relate to the evolution of cooperation and conflict. Here, you will investigate such mechanisms in banded mongooses, an African mammal displaying substantial cooperation within social groups, and serious (often lethal) conflict between groups. 

Banded mongooses (as with many other mammals) rely heavily on scent communication. A key source of scent comes from specialised anal glands which produce a diverse range of chemicals that are likely involved in communicating information essential for social behaviour, such as sex, reproductive status, age, dominance, genetic diversity, and (crucially for interactions within and between groups) the identity of the individual and social group they belong to. Furthermore, scents are stored in glands prior to being deposited in the environment, and these glands have a rich microbial flora. There is some evidence from other mammals that microbes influence scent, but we do not have a good understanding of the microbial composition of scent glands or how these microbes influence scent communication within and between social groups. 

Aims and objectives 

The studentship will evaluate the role of the microbiome in chemical communication and assess potential impacts on social behaviour and evolution. In particular, you will: 

1. Investigate what information is encoded in scent and what subsets of chemicals are involved, with a focus on the determinants of individual and group identity.
2. Explore associations between the scent gland microbiome and the chemical composition of scent.
3. Investigate potential genetic determinants of the microbiome and scent.
4. Investigate how scents and the microbiome vary with changes in the physical and social environment, in relation to predictions regarding social evolution.

Methods 

This project will use data from a 30-year study of banded mongooses in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, where life history, behavioural and genetic data have been collected on up to 7000 individuals. You will first update the banded mongoose genetic pedigree using microsatellite genotyping (PCR and agarose gels in the lab, and parentage analysis using computer software). You will then use this data, along with pre-existing chemical (Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry) and microbiome (16S rRNA sequence) data to investigate the role of chemical communication and the microbiome in cooperation and conflict in banded mongooses. There is also the potential to conduct field work in Uganda (depending on the needs of the project, and appropriate risk assessment) which would likely involve collecting behavioural data and subsequent analysis using programs such as BORIS. Computer analyses of microbiome and chemical data will predominantly be conducted in R software and will involve statistical techniques such as GLMMs, PERMANOVA, PCoA and ANOSIM. 

Experience of some of the above methods (including in R software) would be beneficial, but we do not expect extensive experience in all techniques, and full training will be provided. You will be based at Swansea University, supervised by Dr Hazel Nichols (research focus: genetic techniques, scent communication, banded mongooses) and Dr Tamsyn Uren-Webster (research focus: microbiome) but will collaborate closely with the wider Banded Mongoose Research Project, including Prof Michael Cant (research focus: social evolution, banded mongooses) at the University of Exeter and Prof Barbara Caspers (research focus: scent communication) and Prof Joseph Hoffman (research focus: evolutionary genetics) at Bielefeld University in Germany. The supervisory team are keen to help the student develop an excellent repertoire of specialist scientific training and generic transferable and professional skills. 

Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in Biosciences or a related subject, or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). See - Country-specific Information for EU and International Candidates.

 English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.0) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.

Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance; further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website. 

ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process. Successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with a scholarship course offer. 

This scholarship includes an annual stipend at the UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26). 

An additional £1,000 per year from the Faculty of Science & Engineering will also be available for research costs.

Tuition Fees 

UK Fee Eligible Students: This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees for UK students. 

International Students: This scholarship will cover the full cost of tuition fees if the applicant is also successful in being offered a SUIPRES Scholarship as outlined below.

• Swansea University is pleased to offer the Swansea University International Postgraduate Research Excellence Scholarship (SUIPRES). This is a competitively awarded Scholarship open to overseas PhD and Professional Doctorate applicants eligible for the international rate of tuition fees who can demonstrate excellence in academic achievement.   
• The SUIPRES Scholarship covers the difference between the international and the home tuition fees for the duration of the PhD/Professional Doctorate programme. Successful candidates will be charged fees aligned to the UK rate per year. The scholarship will be offset against your tuition fee liability.

All International applications will be considered for a SUIPRES Scholarship. You will be informed whether a SUIPRES Scholarship will be offered within your offer letter.

To apply, please complete your application online here  with the following information

1. Course choice: please select (Full Time) Biological Sciences / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / October
2. Start year: please select 2025
3. Funding: (page 8 on the application process)

In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application. In this case, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS810 – Animal Societies'

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying. Please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.  

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project
• One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form
•  Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable)
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Dr Hazel Nichols on h.j.nichols@swansea.ac.uk 

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co-funding of a scholarship project is applicable.