Warwick Wainwright

This PhD project was hosted in the School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, in partnership with SRUC.

The travel and fieldwork were most exciting, especially the opportunity to meet new people in different environments. Attending conferences was also rewarding, especially when presenting your findings to a broad spectrum of academics, policy and industry stakeholders.

What was your research about?

Image

My PhD was in environmental economics and explored the use of economic incentives to promote more cost-effective conservation of farm animal and plant genetic resources. My research was undertaken in the UK, Romania and Zambia using a range of methodological approaches including choice experiments, multi criteria analysis and competitive tendering. The research responds to the global declines in agrobiodiversity that impact food security and many aesthetic benefits we derive from genetic diversity. 

What made you apply to the E³ DTP?

I applied for the E3 DTP because the program cohort gave me the flexibility to undertake an interdisciplinary PhD project. The funding was also generous and gave me the opportunity to travel internationally whilst undertaking my fieldwork and to attend conferences.

What did you find challenging during your PhD?

The PhD was a challenging process that is comprised of literature reviews, methodological appraisal, data acquisition, management and analysis, and ultimately paper, chapter and overall thesis writing. All these processes are very challenging but can equally be rewarding. I gained a lot from my work in these broad areas.

Looking back, what would you have done differently?

Most likely many things but hindsight is a virtue. I believe my overall approach was still the correct one but perhaps being more focused on the topic and subject area could have meant I advanced the project faster, but this may have been to the overall detriment of my learning. 

I applied for the E3 DTP because the program cohort gave me the flexibility to undertake an interdisciplinary PhD project. The funding was also generous and gave me the opportunity to travel internationally whilst undertaking my fieldwork and to attend conferences.

Which aspects of your PhD did you enjoy the most?

The travel and fieldwork were most exciting, especially the opportunity to meet new people in different environments. Attending conferences was also rewarding, especially when presenting your findings to a broad spectrum of academics, policy and industry stakeholders. Although drafting papers can be a daunting task this is also rewarding when they are submitted and accepted! 

Which skills did you gain during your PhD?

I acquired a lot of 'soft' and 'hard' skills throughout the PhD. The soft skills mainly concern numerical and verbal reasoning, alongside analytical skills that may you interrogate and question data. The harder, more tangible skills include GIS technical capabilities, coding in R for data management, analysis and visualization, scientific writing skills (both shorter technical style reports and the longer thesis style writing). 

Many of the analytical skills I have acquired during my PhD help me in my new position. [The PhD] has also given me a solid skill base that I can build during my career development in addition to a good understanding of the sector that I operate in.

What would not have been possible without the DTP?

I undertook a Professional Internship Placement with Balfour Beatty during the third year of my PhD. This would most likely not have been possible without the DTP approach to PhD funding that allows students to undertake professional placements. In addition, my attendance at international conferences was also supported with the DTP funding.

How has your PhD helped you to decide on a career path?

After I finished I started a position with Atkins and many of the analytical skills I have acquired during my PhD helping me in this new position. It has also given me a solid skill base that I can build during my career development in addition to a good understanding of the sector that I operate in.

And now?

I am now working as an Environmental Economist with Atkins / SNC-Lavalin in their Water Management Consultancy team. My plans are to gain experience contributing to a broad range of economics and climate finance focused projects across the business. I have already contributed to projects with multi lateral development banks and a range of public and private sector clients across multiple sectors.