Higher Education and Training

PhD Research Programmes

Our PhD programme provides opportunities for research students to work alongside Kew scientists on a variety of topics relevant to the current research priorities of the institution. Currently these include all of the research groups in the Herbarium, Jodrell Laboratory, Millennium Seed Bank and Living Collections.

All research students must be registered at a recognised university (UK or worldwide) for a postgraduate research degree, usually a PhD. As the chartered institution, the particular University both awards the degree and deals with ALL admissions procedures. Enquiries for possible PhD projects should be made to the Postgraduate Admissions Officer of the relevant university. These projects are usually advertised in New Scientist, as the funding becomes available.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew does not currently have funds for PhD students. However, funds for PhD projects are sometimes found through sponsorship or as part of specific research projects. If these funds become available the PhD project will be advertised on this website as well as in New Scientist.

Students who have project ideas and full funding for the project can approach the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to enquire about collaborations. These enquiries should be made directly to the most appropriate research group head.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew currently has research partnerships with 13 universities in the UK and seven outside Britain where one or more PhD projects are active.

Current PhD projects include the following:

• Taxonomy and phytogeography of the Cactaceae of Eastern Brazil (Open University)

• Cladistic biogeography of disjunct angiosperm genera (University of Edinburgh)

• The generic affinities of Eulophia (Orchidaceae) and its infrageneric classification using morphological, micromorphological and molecular data (Open University)

• A taxonomic revision of Erythronium (Open University)

• The inventory and monitoring of non-timber forest products: a case study on Lao rattans showing high time costs and low statistical power (University of Oxford)

• Genetics of Bixa orellana (Birkbeck College, London)

• Molecular and morphological systematics of Juncaceae (Trinity College, Dublin)

• A taxonomic review of Strobilanthes Blume from Java (University of Oxford)

• The development of desiccation tolerance and seed quality in Millettia leucantha and selected Euphorbia species (King's College, London)

• Systematics and biogeography of Ateleia and Cyathostegia (Sophoreae, Leguminosae) (University of Reading)

• The pollen-stigma interaction in Compositae (University of Greenwich)

• Phylogeny of the genus Uncinia (Cyperaceae) (University of Oxford)

• The systematics of the Mitrella Miq. Group (Annonaceae) (University of Reading)

• The taxonomy, ecology and utilisation of African rattans (Calamoideae, Palmae) (University College, London)

Recently completed PhD projects include the following:

• Molecular systematics of the genus Phylica (University of Edinburgh)

• The systematics of the Dioscoriales (University of Reading)

• Anti-malarial activity in plants (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

• Taxonomia e Filogenia das especies de Philodendron Secao Calostigma (Schott) Pfeiffer no Brasil (Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil)

• Factors affecting the development of Phormia regina (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) (Birkbeck College, London)

• Forest structure and dynamics in the Beni Biosphere Reserve (University College, London)

• The genus Hemipia (Orchidaceae) and its affinities (Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Beijing, China)