Leverhulme ‘Space for Nature’ Doctoral Scholars (PhD)- Economic Carrying Capacity, Rhinos & Private OECMs

The PhD scholarship includes an annual stipend (equivalent to the Research Councils UK National Minimum Doctoral Stipend; the 2026/27 rate is £21,805, which is not taxed income). Tuition fees may be covered at the home or international student rate. The PhD scholarship comes with a £10,000 research and training fund

The deadline for this scholarship has now passed.

Criteria

• Hold a 1 or 2.1 Bachelor's degree or, if applicable, a taught Master's degree at merit or distinction or MSc by Research. Please be aware that securing a PhD scholarship tends to be a competitive process, with most applicants holding a Master’s degree.
• Provide a CV. On the CV, please list the degree modules you have studied and provide the grade you were awarded for each one. Please also provide the overall grade you were awarded for your degree(s).
• Provide a covering letter, which outlines why you are interested in the PhD, no more than two A4 pages long. Any statement exceeding this limit will not be accepted.
• Complete our equality, diversity and inclusivity questionnaire in full via this link: https://universityofkent.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eYi2TzQipUB0oaW
• Provide academic references in support of your application; these will be requested if you are successful through the shortlisting process.
• Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by members of the supervisory team. The interview questions will be given to shortlisted candidates in advance.
• Be able to start the PhD programme in Sept 2026.

 Eligibility

This award is open to both home and international students

Scholarship details

For more background information about the Leverhulme ‘Space for Nature’ Doctoral Scholars, please go to: www.kent.ac.uk/durrell-institute-conservation-ecology/research/leverhulme-scholars.

School of PhD registration: Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), within the School of Natural Sciences

PhD degree award: Conservation Sciences

Primary supervisor name: Dr David Roberts

Email address: d.l.roberts@kent.ac.uk

Co-supervisor name: Dr Mahesh Poudyal

Co-supervisor name: Dr Dave Seaman

Project Title: Economic carrying capacity and the future of rhinos in privately governed OECMs

Project Summary: 

Background:

Rhino populations are increasingly concentrated in privately managed landscapes, a form of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), where landholders’ decisions and incentives strongly influence conservation outcomes. In South Africa, over half the white rhino population occurs on private land, a share likely to grow as state-protected areas struggle with poaching. The species’ future therefore hinges on the economic choices of private landowners and communities. While ecological models estimate the biological carrying capacity, financial factors—such as security costs and revenue streams from ecotourism or live sales—define their economic carrying capacity. Trade restrictions on rhino horn can further constrain incentives by removing an important source of income, potentially reducing the land available for rhino conservation. Understanding these dynamics is essential for policies that sustain both biodiversity and livelihoods.

Research Questions:

1. How does the economic carrying capacity of rhino populations differ from their ecological carrying capacity?

2. To what extent would continued restrictions on horn trade influence private and community investment in rhino conservation?

3. How do market structures, management costs, and revenue streams interact to shape conservation space in OECMs?

Methods

The project will develop a counterfactual, bioeconomic modelling framework to explore scenarios of rhino recovery under different trade and management regimes. This will involve multi-market models integrating rhino population dynamics and economic drivers, along with the exploration of equilibrium displacement models to assess policy counterfactuals. Data on costs, revenues, and population parameters from southern African states will inform simulations.

Student Training

The student will gain interdisciplinary skills in ecological and socio-economic modelling, conservation policy analysis, and bioeconomic simulation. The student will benefit from the University of Kent’s Researcher Development Programme, gaining skills in research design, data analysis, communication, and career development. While within DICE, they will receive tailored training in interdisciplinary conservation research.

Person Specification

The candidate will have a strong interest in conservation science and/or environmental economics. Quantitative skills in modelling, statistics, or computational analysis are highly desirable, while enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research bridging ecology, economics, and policy, as well as interest in field engagement and applied conservation, is essential.