Gregory Eckhartt

University of Birmingham

Project

Treescapes and the city: Do wooded networks enhance bird movement in urban areas?

Supervisors

  • Dr. Jim Reynolds, University of Birmingham
  • Professor Jon Sadler, University of Birmingham
  • Dr. Tom Matthews, University of Birmingham
  • Dr. Laura Graham, University of Birmingham
  • Mark Hauber, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PhD Summary

I am using the latest biologging technology to track the movement of blackbirds in relation to urban treescapes.

Previous activity

I completed my BSc in Psychology in 2017 before taking a job as an auditor for 4 years. I never stopped thinking about the animal behaviour courses during that time and so decided to return to academia to complete my MSc in Animal Behaviour in 2022.

Why did you choose doctoral research?

Being an auditor made me re-evaluate what I wanted in a job. I realised that being creative and managing myself was important to me. During my Master’s degree I enjoyed doing fieldwork and writing manuscripts, which lends itself to Doctoral Research in ecology.

Why did you choose CENTA?

CENTA offered a unique opportunity to work across institutions and disciplines in my doctoral research. I was especially attracted to the training resources as I would like to come away from my PhD as a well-rounded researcher.

Future plans

Currently, I plan to go into research and teaching in ecology full time. I think that the breadth of opportunities available with a CENTA studentship, including fully funded work placements, training, and conferences, will enable me to reach this goal and build connections with potential employers.