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Aaron Bhambra

Post Graduate Researcher
What employment sector do you work in?

Academia Sector

How long have you had a green job for nature?

2 years

Salary Range

£20,000 – £25,000

Please describe the work that you do.

I work within the Geography, Earth and Environmental Science department at the University of Birmingham undertaking PhD research into how habitat fragmentation impacts pollinator assemblages in sites of lowland heath across the region. We use a combination of pollinator sampling and drone surveying to critically assess the health of some of our most valuable greenspaces. This project works alongside Natural England as part of the Purple Horizons landscape connectivity project.

What do you most like about your job? Any dislikes?

I enjoy being able to make new discoveries about wildlife in my area, work with a range of charities and environmental groups and spend time studying the natural world.

What inspired you into this career? 

I was inspired to become a researcher by my passion and desire to help restore some of the degraded habitats and green spaces within my local area.

Have you faced any challenges in progressing your career so far? 

I’ve experienced plenty of challenges, particularly in an area as competitive as academia. However, if you are passionate and driven enough, you will relish overcoming these challenges.

What education/training did you have?

I have a bachelor’s degree in History and Politics from the University of Leicester, a Masters degree in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Wolverhampton and I am working towards my doctorate in the Geography department at the University of Birmingham.

What advice would you give to someone coming into the profession? 

Don’t be despondent if you think you don’t have the grades to get into academia, you just need to be passionate and driven and opportunities will arise. This can be a really rewarding area of work for anyone willing to put the effort in and focus on solving some of our most pressing problems.

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Tags: research, academia sector, PhD, England

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