The NERC Research Experience Placement (REP) scheme recognises that there is a shortage of individuals with quantitative skills coming into environmental science, and also recognises demographic and diversity-related challenges in the environmental sciences.
The REP scheme aims to address this skills gap and under representation by offering funding to support paid summer placements for undergraduate students, providing an opportunity to engage in active research projects, enhance skills, and gain valuable experience of what it is like to be a postgraduate researcher within the environmental sciences.
FAQs and experience
Supervisors should refer to our SUPER DTP REP guidance for important details regarding project responsibilities, funding, and student eligibility.
Information for undergraduate applicants on eligibility, funding, supervision, and reporting can be found in our REP FAQs. Find out some of the outcomes and benefits of a Research Experience Placement from previous REP students and supervisors in our SUPER testimonials.
Previous placements
2024
- Developing database solutions for the management and analysis of marine passive acoustic recordings, University of St Andrews. PI: Vincent Janik.
- Greenhouse gas emissions from a restored Scottish saltmarsh, University of St Andrews. PI: William (Bill) Austin.
- Insights into contemporary population connectivity of the Atlantic black-legged kittiwake: A snapshot at the ocean-basin scale, University of Aberdeen. PI: Chloe Cargill with Beth Scott.
- Photosynthetic Trait Assessment of Antarctic Snow Algae, UHI-SAMS. PI: Matt Davey.
- (Sea) salt of the earth: Structural plant-pollinator communities mediated by micronutrient reward in Scottish machair ecosystems, University of Aberdeen. PI: Fabio Manfredini.
- THAIPLAST-Biome: From Field/Lab Work to Public Engagement A Comprehensive International Research Placement Unravelling Marine Plastisphere Dynamics and Enhancing Communication for Public Awareness in Thailand, University of Stirling. PI: Sabine Metallana Surget.
- The effect of microplastics and heatwaves on benthic microorganism diversity & function, University of St Andrews. PI: Julie Hope.
- The role of Iceland’s sedimentary environments in climate regulation, University of St Andrews. PI: Craig Smeaton.
- Training and testing a minke whale vocalisations deep learning detector, University of the Highlands and Islands-Scottish Association for Marine Science. PI: Denise Risch.
2023
- Antarctic snow algae – single cell analysis from mixed populations, University of the Highlands and Islands-Scottish Association for Marine Science. PI: Matt Davey.
- Application of the ECOSSE-model to simulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a Scottish grassland, University of Aberdeen. PI: Mohamed Abdalla.
- Building an understanding of vessel activity in the South Arran Marine Protected Area, Heriot-Watt University. PI: Lauren McWhinnie.
- Heterogeneity and predator-prey dynamics in a non-equilibrium ecosystem, University of Aberdeen. PI: Anna Kellner.
- The effect of viral infections in the honeybee brain on learning, University of Aberdeen. PI: Fabio Manfredini.
2022
- 3D benthos mapping with deep learning, University of the Highlands and Islands-Scottish Association for Marine Science.
- Assessing the potential to develop an automated seabird survey protocol using UAV acquired images, University of St Andrews.
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a Scottish ombrotrophic peatland, University of Aberdeen.
- Using topological and geometrical analysis to gain insights into how species respond to changing environments, University of Aberdeen.
2021
- Artificial Intelligence for intelligent fishing, University of Aberdeen.
- Investigating food webs in and around streams under forest-to-bog restoration in the Flow Country, University of the Highlands and Islands-Environmental Research Institute.
- Optimizing a citizen-science tool used to inform mangrove crab fisheries management in Brazil, Edinburgh Napier University.
- Optofluidic assessment of thaumarchaeota association with pollutant tolerance in halichondria panicea holobionts during ammonia perturbation, University of Aberdeen.