FoodBioSystems BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership – four-year funded PhD studentships available

Recruiting PhD researchers to projects that span the food chain, from farm to fork

The FoodBioSystems Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is advertising 56 PhD projects. We are looking for candidates from a broad range of scientific backgrounds including: agricultural sciences, analytical chemistry, animal health, artificial intelligence, biochemistry, bioinformatics, biological sciences, crop science, data science, environmental engineering, food engineering, food science, machine learning, nutrition, plant science, soil science and veterinary sciences.

We will be awarding about 30 salaried studentships through a competitive process. Studentships will be for four years and will start in autumn 2024. Project opportunities are available at Aberystwyth University, Brunel University, Cranfield University, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Reading and University of Surrey.

Benefits

FoodBioSystems DTP students receive a tax free stipend (salary) set at the UKRI rate. This is currently £18,622 per year for four years (or £20,622 for students registered at Brunel University). The DTP pays tuition fees at the standard UK rate and makes a contribution to the research project costs.

Training

As a FoodBioSystems postgraduate research student you will undertake training that leads towards a PhD and equips you with extra skills and knowledge to support your future career. Your research project will be co-supervised across two institutes within our academic partnership and you will take part in our training programme to gain a core understanding of food systems, data analysis and modelling. You will also follow a programme of subject specific learning, depending on your needs. In addition, you will carry out a professional internship (generally not related to the research project).

Please visit our website to find our more about the DTP training programme, current projects at the 6 partner universities and meet some of our researchers to check out what they have said about their research and training experiences so far.

Funding eligibility

The majority of our studentships (minimum 70%) are available to students with UK/home fees status. We also welcome applications from international students (any applicant who does not meet home fees eligibility criteria) and we receive many excellent applications each year. However, UKRI funding conditions mean that the DTP can only offer a maximum of 30% of the total number of studentships to international students.Therefore we can award a maximum of 8 studentships to international students in 2024.

Funding for PhD studentships from BBSRC is only available to successful candidates who meet the eligibility criteria set out in the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) harmonized training terms and conditions.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Guaranteed interview scheme and applicant mentoring

The FoodBioSystems DTP is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to build a doctoral researcher and staff body that reflects the diversity of society, and to encourage applications from under-represented groups. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme and an applicant mentoring scheme to students who hold UK fees status and who are from eligible under-represented ethnic groups. Closing date to apply for a mentor is 10 January 2024 (09:00 GMT).

Applicants with disabilities or specific learning differences

We are keen to make our application process accessible. Applicants can choose to disclose a disability or specific learning difference on the application form. The DTP office will contact shortlisted applicants who have made this disclosure so we can offer reasonable adjustments to interviews. This information is kept confidential unless the applicant chooses to share it with the interview panels.

Part time registration

Our studentships are offered on a part time basis in addition to full time registration. The minimum registration is 50% FT and the studentship end date will be extended to reflect the part-time registration.

How to Apply

Please view the individual project descriptions and application guidance on our website. Application is by online application form only. CVs are not looked at, please do not send them.

Application deadline: 22 January 2024 (10.00am GMT)

For more information

To find out more about us, the projects we are offering this year and important information about the selection process please visit here. For enquiries about individual projects please contact the project leads.