Bristol Zoological Society’s Field Conservation & Science Department offers a range of opportunities to conduct research at Bristol Zoo Project, Bristol Zoo Gardens, or in one of our field-based projects, supervised by our staff.
These opportunities include:
Short-term research projects required as part of one of our FdSc, BSc, or MSc courses;
Externally supervised students/researchers who wish to conduct research projects that are compatible with our specific research priorities and Research Policy;
Post-doctoral research associates and professional researchers that wish to undertake ex-situ or in-situ conservation-focussed research projects here at Bristol Zoological Society or abroad.
If you are interested in one of our research opportunities, complete a Research Proposal Form and email to [email protected].
Postgraduate students interested in undertaking an MRes degree at Bristol Zoo Gardens, Bristol Zoo Project, or in one of our field research or conservation programmes sites abroad should contact Bristol Zoological Society’s Field Conservation and Science Team ([email protected]) for more information on other potential research topics.
You must apply for the MRes through UWE Bristol by contacting Dr Joel Allainguillaume ([email protected]) and specifying your interest in carrying out your research project with us at Bristol Zoological Society.
The Society's research projects are aligned with the objectives of our conservation and science, and conservation education, programmes, and seek to make a significant contribution to species and habitat conservation through providing a greater understanding of the ecology, health, welfare and optimal husbandry of the focal species. Priority themes are the following:
Long-term population monitoring
Evaluating habitat restoration
Understanding and facilitating human-wildlife co-existence
Informing captive conditions
Identifying output welfare indicators in non-mammalian animals
Improving husbandry, health and welfare
Evaluating enrichment; enabling natural behaviours using naturalistic materials
Informing field techniques and conservation medicine
Some current MRes topics available are (but not limited to):
Nightingale populations within S. Glos and habitat restoration recommendations.
Efficacy of high-level roost sites in the Lower Severn Vale.
Effective monitoring methods for long term BNG assessment at Bristol Zoo Project.
Ex-situ dietary preferences in white-clawed crayfish.
Genetic diversity of water vole populations in South Gloucestershire and Bristol.
Assessing the behaviour, husbandry and welfare of bleeding-heart doves (Gallicolumba spp.) in European and southeast Asian zoos (could include data collection in captive facilities in UK/Europe, Singapore and/or Philippines).
Monitoring the status and distribution of threatened species in the West Visayas, Philippines and assessing the drivers of population trends. Projects can focus on one or more taxa but should be terrestrial in focus. Species of interest include (but are not restricted to) Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons), Negros bleeding-heart dove (Gallicolumba keayi), Rufous-headed hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni), Visayan hornbill (Penelopides panini) and Visayan spotted deer (Rusa alfredi).
Investigating interactions between humans and wildlife in Northwest Panay, Philippines. Topics could include: understanding forest resource use, monitoring Visayan warty pig crop foraging, or investigating the prevalence of hybridisation between Visayan warty pigs and domestic pigs.
Evaluating amphibian population size/abundance in northwest Madagascar.
For postgraduate students interested in undertaking a PhD project at Bristol Zoo Project, Bristol Zoo Gardens, or in one of our field research or conservation programmes sites abroad.
These projects will be co-supervised by our Field Conservation and Science Department staff in association with a supervisor at your registered institution. Please email [email protected] for more information.
Please note: At this time, we cannot offer funding for postgraduate students; however, we are happy to provide advice on potential external funding opportunities.
We also welcome enquiries from postdocs and professional researchers interested in carrying out projects at Bristol Zoo Project, Bristol Zoo Gardens, or in one of our field research or conservation programmes sites abroad.
Due to our large number of undergraduate and postgraduate students and limited staff resource, we prioritise internal research applications above external research applications. All research applications must directly relate to our research themes outlined above, or they will not be considered.
Please be advised that all projects carried out through the Society require approval by our internal review panel. In addition, we must be provided with copies of all ethical approval documents from your home institution. Thus, we recommend that you submit your documents well in advance of your anticipated start date as the approval process may take some time.
All research enquiries need to be accompanied with a completed BZS Research Proposal Form.
You can also view BIAZA's research guidelines.
