I am in the middle of applying for a PhD's in plant ecology or landscape ecology and finding that there is a real lack of projects that suit my area of interest. I have an interview at a Science Research centre (Rothamsted) and wondered what the consensus was on doing a PhD a an independent site rather than a uni. I have to point out that I would be working with supervisors from 2 uni's which are renowned in their field.

Even if you spend most or all of your time at the research centre, uou would still be appointed to a University (I don't know of any research centres that are degree-awarding bodies) so you shouldn't lose out in terms of facilities.

In fact these centres usually have better facilities! Some might prefer working in a much more practical and cutting edge environment than a typical University department. However the social life may differ from the Uni experience quite a lot.

Rothamsted is world-famous though, and I hear a nice place to work.

I think it depends what sort of person you are. Rothamstead is pretty isolated so (although there will be other students) if you want to carry on a real 'student lifestyle' with access to other uni things like sports clubs it might not suit as well as if you are happy to treat it as a first job. From what i have seen (other institute though) they do treat students well, with less hassle in getting equipment and stuff, and less distinction between 'student' and 'staff'.
Also note that there won't be opportunities to teach/demonstrate - not necessarily a prob, depending on what you want to do after and what your finances are like!
Which uni would you be registered at? worth checking out what they provide in way of generic training etc

Thanks thecoastman and aliby - you both brought up some points I really hadn't thought about such as lack of teaching ops...I'm a mature student and so not too bothered about losing the uni lifestyle so much but I am a little concerned about the isolation of the place - the facilities however I believe are state of the art and so one has to weigh up the pros and cons. University of Sheffield would be the awarding academic institute. My problem really is finding the right PhD - I haven't found any that I think oh yeah that is totally for me. Seen something at Exeter (anyone know about Uni at Exeter, rep etc.) in the Geography department which is getting a little off plant ecology but would have a very good interdisciplinary project that would allow me to keep my options open!

I am at a research institute like Rothamsted and I enjoy it here. Like the other guys have mentioned you are set away from the 'uni-lifestyle' but that has its upsides as I feel I get treated more as a colleague rather than a PhD student. From what my friends at unis have said its easier for me to get hold of equipment and the like

i think being in a institute is very different. its more like a 905 job, and from what i know of friends the hours are more fixed, whereas at unis people come and go more freely. but you do get treated more like collegue, and possibly for some get more help as supervisors are not lecturing etc. you do lose out on the student lifestyle but for most that doesnt matter by the time you get to mid twenties.

Thanks guys - but try mid 30's