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The University of Southampton
EngineeringPostgraduate study
Email:
J.Merrifield@soton.ac.uk

Mr Jack R Merrifield BSc (Hons), PGCE, MSc, Grad CIEEM

Postgraduate research student

Mr Jack R Merrifield's photo

Mr Jack R Merrifield is Postgraduate research student within Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton.

I recently graduated with a Master of Science in Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology from the University of Exeter. During this degree I organised a Research Project with the Brown Hyena Research Project based in Namibia. This project involved exploring the factors underpinning cooperative hunting strategies and the allocation of roles within a hunting group by Black-backed jackals on the Diamond Coast in Namibia.

My undergraduate degree is in Genetics and my dissertation focused on harnessing the power of Transposable Elements to promote resistance to pathogenic bacteria in legume crops. Prior to my work with in Namibia I also conducted various field-based studies throughout National Parks and Reserves in Kenya including Hells Gate National Park, Lake Naivasha and Nakuru, Mount Kenya and Amboseli.

I am a qualified Interdisciplinary Science Teacher having achieved a Postgraduate certificate in Education from Cardiff University. I have taught a diverse range of learners and academic levels in private and state education, abroad and in the UK.

In combination my degrees and experiences have laid the foundations for my current PhD project under the supervision of Dr Patrick Osborne, Dr Patrick Doncaster and Professor P Newland.

Research interests

I am fascinated by ecology and am particularly interested in mapping the effects of environmental pollutants on ecological communities.

Title: Investigating the combined effects of environmental pollutants.

Supervisors: Dr Patrick Osborne, Dr Patrick Doncaster & Professor Philip Newland

Funded by: The University of Southampton’s Faculty of Engineering and the Environment

Research group

Centre for Environmental Sciences

Research project(s)

Investigating the combined effects of environmental pollutants

Generating a light-, noise- and electromagnetic radiation-scape of the Southampton area in relation to areas used by bats and their prey will enable us to visualise the complex relationships between ecologically important species and pollutants, whilst simultaneously bridging the gaps in our knowledge of what constitutes as disturbance to these cryptic species. Consequently, this study will catalyse the improvement of mitigation strategies to be employed during urban development projects.

Mr Jack R Merrifield
Engineering, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton. SO17 1BJ United Kingdom

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