Ruth Fawthrop

My decision to move to another country to undertake my PhD meant I was keen to find an institute with a real community atmosphere. I definitely found this at NIOO. From weekly science lunches, departmental seminars and journal clubs to institute-wide events like the NIOO Research Day and the NIOO seminar series, there are always plenty of opportunities to chat with colleagues, fostering an environment of collaboration and friendship.

The facilities at NIOO are also second to none. Almost everywhere you look, there is some form of experiment going on, whether that be in one of our state-of-the-art labs, outdoor spaces or even on the green roof. As an avian biologist, access to the captive bird populations, housed in our on-site aviaries, is a real bonus and has already allowed me to ask questions that would be harder to tackle using exclusively wild systems. Being so immersed in science, in a space that is also beautifully and sustainably designed, makes for a truly inspiring day at the office.”

Ruth Fawthrop is PhD candidate within the Animal Ecology department