Phd studentship in Applied Mathematics/Population Ecology: Projecting 20th century demography into 21st century ageing and wellbeing – trends, transients and translocation Ref: 1261
Location: Penryn Campus, Cornwall, University of Exeter. Supervisors: Dr Markus Mueller, Dr Dave Hodgson and Professor Stuart Townley, University of Exeter. Armed with a large database of human population structures and dynamics from around the world, this project aims to translate mathematical tools from linear algebra and population ecology, into the field of human demography. It will detect geographical and socio-economic patterns in age-structured dynamics, detect the signal of demographic disasters in population dynamic trajectories, and forecast human population dynamics into short-, medium- and long-term future scenarios. The United Nations draw very different scenarios for the future growth of human populations, based on assumptions of high, medium or low rates of fertility and migration. This PhD project will ask much more detailed questions, informed by recent research at the University of Exeter, which has contributed deep insight into the stable, unstable and stochastic aspects of age-structured populations. Age-structuring of life histories can provide natural resilience against mass mortality events. Life histories can evolve to buffer their most important rates of survival and reproduction against the damaging effects of environmental fluctuations. Our goal is to understand the complexity of human demography at regional, national and global scales. This understanding will help to forecast demographies into uncertain future environmental, political and social scenarios. The successful applicant will be based in the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) on the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus and will be expected to collaborate with researchers within the ESI, the University of Exeter’s Centre for Ecology and Conservation, the University of Exeter’s European Centre for the Environment and Human Health, and partners from governments and NGOs on various aspects of the project. For informal enquiries contact: [email protected] [email protected] or [email protected] Application Criteria You should have or expect to achieve at least a 2:1 Honours degree, or equivalent, in Mathematic, Computer Sciences or Natural Sciences. Experience in mathematical modelling, numerical modelling, signal processing, and with tools such as MatLab and R or other mathematical modelling tools are highly desirable though not essential. Summary Application deadline: 27th January 2014 Number of awards: 1 Value: EPSRC funded 3.5 year studentship, Tuition fees (UK) and £13,726 annual maintenance allowance at (UK) current research council rate Contact: Postgraduate Research Office, [email protected] How to apply To apply, you must complete the online web form. You will be asked to submit some personal details and upload a full CV, covering letter and details of two academic referees. Your covering letter should outline your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake this project. For general enquiries please contact Fiona Ayre at [email protected]
