Thomas Hurst

PhD Title: Investigating beaver expansion and the factors associated with damming behaviour in Britain

Tom Hurst is a PhD student at DICE, University of Kent, funded by the Advanced Research and Innovation in the Environmental Sciences (ARIES) group. 

Tom completed a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science at Sheffield Hallam University in 2021 with First-Class Honours and gained extensive experience in ecological consultancy and applied fieldwork before starting his PhD in 2025. 

Tom has worked with riparian mammals and wetland birds across Kent, including otter, water vole, and beaver populations, contributing to habitat management, species recovery, and evidence-based conservation practice.

Tom's PhD investigates beaver expansion and damming behaviour in Britain, examining population expansion, habitat use, behavioural differences across landscapes, and coexistence with people and other species in Kent. He is interested in the factors driving species expansion and behaviour, and in applying this knowledge to evidence-based conservation strategies.

Tom is motivated by researching experimental multi-species habitat management approaches, investigating species interactions, and developing strategies that enhance biodiversity and promote the recovery of multiple species within shared landscapes. He collaborates with a range of conservation and research organisations, including Natural England, Beaver Trust, Five Sisters Zoo, Wildwood Trust, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and the University of Lincoln. 

Tom is particularly drawn to projects that integrate ecological research with practical conservation, supporting sustainable wildlife populations, enhancing habitat quality, and promoting effective conservation outcomes across the UK.

Supervised by Dr Daniel Ingram, Dr Jake Bicknell, Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer - The Beaver Trust, and Dr Mohammad Farhadinia.