Please note: Regrettably we are not currently able to offer a student placement
From 2013 to 2016, our Wytham site, run by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, offered a one year vacancy for an undergraduate student. The student was trained in and undertook environmental monitoring at Wytham Wood, including associated laboratory and computer work.
About the placement
The Environmental Change Network (ECN) is the UK’s long-term integrated environmental monitoring and research programme. We gather information about the pressures from and responses to climate change in ecosystems. Our placement at Wytham was an opportunity for an undergraduate to work with us for one year. Applicants needed a full clean driving licence and had to be prepared to work in the field and laboratory after training.
The successful applicant undertook fieldwork on the Wytham Estate, near Oxford, which comprises of 400ha woodland and 370ha farmland. She/he was based with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) at Wallingford, 13 miles south of Oxford.
Our students were trained in the techniques for monitoring a range of organisms including butterflies, moths, ground beetles, bats, rabbits and deer, as well as to assist with vegetation recording. Experience was obtained in measuring a range of physical variables including automatic and manual meteorology and atmospheric pollutants. Laboratory and computing skills were developed. The students were also be expected to undertake and write up a short project of interest to themselves and to ECN and there were opportunities for work experience with other research groups within UKCEH.
The vacancy began at the start of September and ran for 50 weeks. Within the year there were six weeks paid holiday in addition to 10.5 paid days off to cover Christmas, Easter and Bank Holidays.
Here you can read about one student's experience with ECN Wytham and UKCEH and view the Wytham student 'Hall of Fame'.