{"id":258,"date":"2026-11-02T14:59:49","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T14:59:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/environment-earth-and-ecosystem-sciences\/?page_id=258"},"modified":"2026-11-04T17:10:27","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T17:10:27","slug":"why-do-your-phd-with-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/environment-earth-and-ecosystem-sciences\/study\/phd-students\/why-do-your-phd-with-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do your PhD with us?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a PhD student in EEES you will be contributing to our dynamic and successful research, much of which was recognised as \u2018world leading\u2019 or \u2018internationally excellent\u2019 in the last Research Excellence Framework assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Listen to Matt talking about his PhD&nbsp;research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Matt - PhD Research Student\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Kj2TDw_D5us?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the key benefits of choosing to do your PhD at the Open University is the access you will have to a wide range of well-equipped laboratories and specialist equipment, available in the School and wider university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is also a lively academic support network with regular seminars, research group meetings and informal chats at coffee time, giving you plenty of opportunities to talk with your supervisors, peers, and other researchers and academic staff about your research interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Listen to Laura talking about her&nbsp;PhD&nbsp;research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Laura - PhD Research Student\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MxnOSViyWnI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If applicable to your research project, you will also have the opportunity to go on fieldwork to collect data and samples. PhD research students from the school have set up&nbsp;a podcast&nbsp;sharing research stories from the field. Listen to our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fieldworkdiaries.com\/\">Fieldwork Diaries<\/a> podcast to hear more tales!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Training and opportunities<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You will also have access to a comprehensive training and professional development programme focusing on research skills for PhD students, as well as receiving specific training for your individual project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These training events have been specifically designed not only to ensure you can successfully complete your PhD, but to also help prepare you for future employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As part of this, you will be encouraged to attend at least one national and one international conference during your PhD, and present&nbsp;your findings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/environment-earth-ecosystem-sciences\/sites\/www.open.ac.uk.stem.environment-earth-ecosystem-sciences\/files\/images\/Sophie_Andrew_Soapbox_Science.jpg\" alt=\"Young female scientist gives a talk in the middle of a shopping centre\" style=\"width:400px;height:auto\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also gain some teaching experience while doing your PhD, in terms of supporting students on our Environmental and Earth Science field-trips, running online seminars and research presentations for our students and our associate staff, as well as working with academics here on campus on some of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.futurelearn.com\/\">FutureLearn MOOCs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This experience will give you a unique opportunity to experience first-hand what makes for effective online learning and teaching. This is a skill that is not only relevant to the wider education sector, but is also directly relevant to many jobs, where you may work as part of an online team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Listen to Nikola talking about his PhD&nbsp;research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Nikola - PhD Research Student\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/X6pkq_c1jPI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverphds.com\/advice\/interviews\/emmanuel-junior-zuza\">To read an interview about Emmanuel Junior Zuza\u2019s experiences and advice about PhD life click here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverphds.com\/advice\/interviews\/emmanuel-junior-zuza\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/environment-earth-ecosystem-sciences\/sites\/www.open.ac.uk.stem.environment-earth-ecosystem-sciences\/files\/images\/Emmanuel%20Junior%20Zuza.jpg\" alt=\"Emmanuel Junior Zuza\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.5;width:630px;height:auto\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a PhD student in EEES you will be contributing to our dynamic and successful research, much of which was recognised as \u2018world leading\u2019 or \u2018internationally excellent\u2019 in the last Research Excellence Framework assessment. Listen to Matt talking about his PhD&nbsp;research. One of the key benefits of choosing to do your PhD at the Open [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":134,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_unity_review_frequency":"","_unity_review_next_due":0,"_unity_review_reset_requested":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-258","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/environment-earth-and-ecosystem-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/environment-earth-and-ecosystem-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/environment-earth-and-ecosystem-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/environment-earth-and-ecosystem-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/environment-earth-and-ecosystem-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=258"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/environment-earth-and-ecosystem-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":301,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/environment-earth-and-ecosystem-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/258\/revisions\/301"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/environment-earth-and-ecosystem-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/environment-earth-and-ecosystem-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}