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Uncovering the hidden costs and benefits of mate choice

Funding
Self-funded
Study mode
Full-time
Apply by
Start date
Year round
Subject area
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
How to apply
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Overview

This funded PhD project will be the first to explicitly test the role of the environment in mediating the costs and benefits of mate choice, enabling us to better link animal reproductive behaviour to future environmental change.

About this opportunity

Animals are typically selective in who they choose to mate with. Theory suggests that by choosing high-quality mates, choosers can benefit by producing more or higher-quality offspring. However, studies testing the benefits of mate choice often find conflicting results- in some cases, there seem to be no clear benefits of being choosy. One reason for this could be that experiments are often performed in benign lab settings, in which both the costs and benefits of being choosy may be reduced. It therefore remains unclear how beneficial mate choice is in more natural, stressful environments.

Objectives

  1. Use lab experiments in fruit flies to examine the fitness payoffs of being choosy in benign and stressful environments
  2. Use meta-analysis and computer simulations to investigate ecological factors influencing the costs and benefits of being choosy across the animal kingdom.

Novelty and timeliness

Mate choice is incredibly important for determining the fitness of individuals and populations. It’s also a powerful evolutionary process which drives the evolution of novel sexual traits and causes new species to form. This project will be the first to explicitly test the role of the environment in mediating the costs and benefits of mate choice, and so will allow us to better link animal reproductive behaviour to future environmental change. Results will also aid our understanding of the potential benefits of mate choice for captive breeding programs and conservation.

Who is this opportunity for?

The project is open to self-funded UK and international applicants.

Further reading

1. Dougherty LR (2021) Meta-analysis shows the evidence for context-dependent mating behaviour is inconsistent or weak across animals. Ecology Letters 24: 862-875.
2. Martin‐Wintle et al. (2019) Improving the sustainability of ex situ populations with mate choice. Zoo Biology 38: 119-132.
3. Hettyey et al. (2010) Mate choice for genetic benefits: time to put the pieces together. Ethology 116: 1-9.

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How to apply

  1. 1. Contact supervisors

    To apply to this project, email your CV and cover letter to the primary supervisor, Dr Liam Dougherty, in the first instance: .

    Project supervisors

  2. 2. Prepare your application documents

    You may need the following documents to complete your online application:

    • A research proposal (this should cover the research you’d like to undertake)
    • University transcripts and degree certificates to date
    • Passport details (international applicants only)
    • English language certificates (international applicants only)
    • A personal statement
    • A curriculum vitae (CV)
    • Contact details for two proposed supervisors
    • Names and contact details of two referees.

  3. 3. Apply

    Finally, register and apply online. You'll receive an email acknowledgment once you've submitted your application. We'll be in touch with further details about what happens next.

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Fees and funding

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.

Tuition fees

UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)

Full-time place, per year - £5,006

International fees

Full-time place, per year - £31,250

Fees stated are for the 2025-26 academic year.

Additional costs

We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.

Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this project.

Funding your PhD

This opportunity is for students with their own funding. Funding should cover course fees, living expenses and research expenses (bench fees). The research group cannot provide supplementary funding or provide advice about how to apply for funding.

If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan worth up to £30,301 to help with course fees and living costs.

There’s also a variety of alternative sources of funding. These include funded research opportunities and financial support from UK research councils, charities and trusts. Your supervisor may be able to help you secure funding.

My qualifications are from United Kingdom.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition fees and living expenses.

Duncan Norman Research Scholarship

If you’re awarded this prestigious scholarship, you’ll receive significant funding to support your postgraduate research. This includes full payment of your PhD fees and a cash bursary of £17,000 per year while you study. One award is available in each academic year.

John Lennon Memorial Scholarship

If you’re a UK student, either born in or with strong family connections to Merseyside, you could be eligible to apply for financial support worth up to £12,000 per year for up to three years of full-time postgraduate research (or up to five years part-time pro-rata).

Sport Liverpool Performance Programme

Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.

Discover our full range of scholarships and bursaries.
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Contact us

Have a question about this research opportunity or studying a PhD with us? Please get in touch with us, using the contact details below, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Dr Liam Dougherty
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