Academic partners
Collaborative partners
Institute of Fisheries Management
Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute Northern Ireland
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
"Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"
Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
Institute of Fisheries Management
AssociaÁ„o Projeto Biodiversidade
People's Trust for Endangered Species
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana
Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research, Universiti Brunei Darussalam
Thames Estuary Partnership and Coastal Partnerships Network
Welcome to the TREES DLA
The TREES Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) is an innovative, inclusive, and interdisciplinary PhD training programme dedicated to preparing the next generation of environmental scientists. Supported by NERC, with a collaboration of 10 Hosting Partners and over 70 industry, academic, and NGO partners, TREES combines cutting-edge research training with a strong focus on equity, diversity, and sustainability.
Our students will be empowered to tackle global environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem resilience. Through personalised project training, student choice, and hands-on fieldwork, TREES will offer a diverse range of skill-building opportunities in areas like artificial intelligence, environmental monitoring, coding, and sustainability.
We are committed to inclusivity, aiming to recruit 50% of students from underrepresented backgrounds by 2029, and fostering an open, supportive environment with mentorship, flexible funding, and tailored career pathways. TREES students will also engage with communities, schools, and industry leaders, building networks and skills to make a real-world impact.
Join TREES DLA – be part of a programme that will equip you for leadership in environmental science, bridge knowledge gaps, and promote ethical, sustainable practices across sectors.
Our students will be empowered to tackle global environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem resilience. Through personalised project training, student choice, and hands-on fieldwork, TREES will offer a diverse range of skill-building opportunities in areas like artificial intelligence, environmental monitoring, coding, and sustainability.
We are committed to inclusivity, aiming to recruit 50% of students from underrepresented backgrounds by 2029, and fostering an open, supportive environment with mentorship, flexible funding, and tailored career pathways. TREES students will also engage with communities, schools, and industry leaders, building networks and skills to make a real-world impact.
Join TREES DLA – be part of a programme that will equip you for leadership in environmental science, bridge knowledge gaps, and promote ethical, sustainable practices across sectors.
TREES DLA: Training for Tomorrow’s Environmental Scientists
Training Programme
The TREES training programme is designed to equip students with discipline-specific, cross-disciplinary, and employability-focused skills for impactful careers in environmental science. Each student benefits from a combination of cohort-wide modules, immersive field training, and customised, project-specific training. Our curriculum spans essential topics such as communication, entrepreneurship, innovation, EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion), and sustainability, all grounded in a commitment to environmental research excellence. Through the expertise of our Hosting and Collaborative Partners, students access a rich array of training opportunities, internships, career workshops, and specialised facilities. The TREES programme prepares students to lead sustainable and ethical scientific practices, with core training that includes sustainability literacy, open science, and research ethics.
Cohort-Wide Training and Career Support
The foundational cohort-wide training, concentrated in the first two terms of Year 1, covers essential research topics, personal development, and career skills, setting a strong foundation for future learning. Core topics include project design, sustainable budgeting, coding, data modelling, machine learning, spatial data science, environmental monitoring, and Big Data and AI applications in environmental science. Following these fundamentals, students engage in training in media communication, citizen science, and public engagement, guided by media and outreach professionals.
Students also benefit from extensive career development resources through our Hosting Partners, with an alumni network that offers insights into careers in NGOs, government, industry, and more. Career support is enhanced with bi-monthly career seminars, annual networking events, and individual placements. A mentorship network, comprising TREES alumni and Collaborative Partners, provides tailored support throughout students' PhD journeys and beyond.
Field Training
Field training is a vital component of TREES, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to address complex environmental challenges. All students participate in a Year 1 field trip to the Isle of Wight, where they gain practical experience across environmental, geological, biological, atmospheric, and marine sciences. A second field trip, selected and organised by the cohort, allows students to develop logistical, communication, and sustainability skills by planning and conducting research in real-world natural environments. This immersive experience builds strong cohort connections and prepares students to make responsible, environmentally sound decisions.
Personalised PhD Project Training and the Personal Training Programme (PTP)
Each student co-designs a Personal Training Programme (PTP) with their supervisory team. This personalised programme begins with a project plan, encompassing a literature review, methodology, timeline, budget, and sustainability commitment. Through regular skills audits, the PTP adapts to evolving training needs, ensuring that students gain relevant expertise and career-focused skills.
Key PTP activities include one-on-one training with supervisors, in-house sessions from TREES partners, and career development initiatives led by the UCL Innovation & Enterprise team. Students can select from over 60 MSc-level modules, attend conferences, and participate in university teaching. The Personal Training Record documents each student’s progress and includes reflective narratives to support career development. A unique element of the PTP is a three-month placement within a Collaborative Partner organisation, allowing students to broaden their networks and gain hands-on experience beyond academia.
Careers
TREES prepares doctoral researchers for a range of environmental science careers, enhancing both research and transferable skills essential for diverse roles. In addition to research-focused training, students receive comprehensive training in communication, citizen science, public engagement, outreach, entrepreneurship, innovation, EDI, and sustainability.
TREES students are connected to a broad PhD alumni network, gaining insights into careers across NGOs, government, industry, education, and beyond. Bi-monthly career seminars, an annual Collaborative Partner networking event, and placements support professional networking and career development. A dedicated mentorship network, comprised of TREES alumni and Collaborative Partners, provides ongoing career support tailored to students' individual paths.
Additionally, TREES students have access to extensive career services at Hosting Partners, including online resources, job fairs, career workshops, personalised career advice, CV writing, and interview training, ensuring they are well-prepared for opportunities within and beyond academia.
EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion)
TREES is committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion within environmental science, with a goal to recruit 50% of students from underrepresented backgrounds by 2029. To achieve this, TREES actively addresses barriers to participation in STEM, with a focus on social mobility, intersectionality, and representation from diverse socioeconomic groups. Central to this effort is SEEDS, a pre-application programme that offers support and internship opportunities for prospective students from diverse backgrounds.
The TREES EDI Council oversees recruitment, mentorship, and training to ensure accountability and implement strategies that address the unique challenges faced by underrepresented groups. Through continuous monitoring and review, TREES embeds inclusivity across all stages of the programme, from recruitment to training and beyond. By fostering an equitable and supportive environment, TREES aims to build a diverse scientific community that reflects the diversity of society and promotes inclusivity in environmental research and practice.
Explore our programme overview and application pages to learn more about how to join TREES and contribute to a sustainable future in environmental science.
