Biological Sciences: Fully Funded PhD Studentship on Comparative Analysis and Modelling of Collective Behaviour in Natural and Artificial Systems (RS842)

Funding providers: EPSRC studentship with a 50% match-funded contribution from ONRG 

Subject areas: Interdisciplinary Science, Collective Animal Behaviour, Computational Biology, Comparative Analyses, Swarm Robotics 

Project start dates:

• 1 October 2025 
• 1 January 2026 

Supervisors: 

• Andrew King (Swansea University)  
• William Allen (Swansea University)  
• Marina Papadopoulou (Tuscia University, Italy) 
• Andreagiovanni Reina (University of Konstanz, Germany) 
• Robert Heathcote (Oxford University) 

Aligned programme of study:  PhD Biological Sciences   

Mode of study: Full or Part-Time study is possible  

Project description: 
Animal groups exhibit remarkable coordination and problem-solving capabilities, such as schools of fish working together to deter attacks by predators or fire ants creating rafts using their bodies to float over floodwaters. Recent work in behavioural biology emphasises how differences among individuals within groups (e.g. biomechanics, physiology, behaviour, cognition) determine group structure and functioning [1].

Building on these insights, you will compile and standardise datasets of collective movement and collect new data from multiple species of freshwater fish. From these data, you will identify and compare discrete “events” of coordinated movement and use our recently developed “swaRmverse” analysis pipeline [2] to perform inter- and intra-species comparisons of collective movement [3].

Based on these comparisons, you will create agent-based models (ABMs) that define interaction rules based on observed similarities and differences in events [4], with a focus on the specific role of individual differences. Creation of these ABMs will advance our understanding of why evolution selects and maintains individual heterogeneity [1]. You will apply this knowledge to engineered swarm systems. Swarm systems tend to rely on simple and homogeneous interactions used in early ABMs of collective motion [5]. Using the newly developed ABMs, you will create a model catalogue targeted at specific engineering problem domains that researchers in swarm robotics can use for developing more adaptive and efficient swarm systems [6]. 

Supervisory team: 

You will be based at SHOALgroup.org at Swansea University (Singleton Campus) and will make visits to co-supervisors at collaborating institutions. You will receive mentorship and training from all supervisors, in behavioural biology (King, Heathcote), comparative analyses (Allen), agent-based modelling (Papadopoulou) and swarm robotics (Reina), and be an active member of an interdisciplinary research teams addressing fundamental questions in social biology, with strong applied themes. As supervisors, we strive to create an enjoyable, inclusive, and productive team environment. You are encouraged to contact us and speak with previous PhD students about what to expect (e.g. see SHOALgroup alumni). 

Cited References: 

[1] Jolles, J. W., King, A. J., Killen, S. (2019) Trends Ecol Evol https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2019.11.001 
[2] Papadopoulou, M., Garnier, S., King, A. J. (2024) Methods Ecol Evol https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14460  
[3] Papadopoulou, M., et al. (2023) Phil Trans R Soc https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0068  
[4] Papadopoulou, M. et al., In: From Animals to Animats 17. SAB 2024.  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71533-4_15  
[5] Holland, O., Melhuish, C. (1999) Artificial Life https://doi.org/10.1162/106454699568737   
[6] Dorigo, M., et al. (2021) Proceedings of the IEEE https://doi.org/10.1109/JPROC.2021.3072740   

Funding duration: 3 years

Scholarship open to UK fee eligible applicants only.  

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations 

PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in Biosciences or a related subject, or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). See Country Specific Entry Requirements page. 

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.0) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.  

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26). 

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available. 

To apply, please complete the entire application form:

In order to be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required. 

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS842 

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory) 

• In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:  

• the RS Code, RS842
• the scholarship title

• Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank 
• Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank 
• In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload?*’(Mandatory) Please select Yes 
• Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf) 

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected. 

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award. 

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards. 

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.    

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted. 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email): 

• CV 

• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient) 

• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project. 

• One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference. 

• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable). 

• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable) 

• Confirmation of EDI form submission 

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Dr Andrew King a.j.king@swansea.ac.uk  

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.