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FoodBioSystems BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership

FoodBioSystems Doctoral Training Partnership – fully funded PhD studentships available

Four-year funded PhD projects are available in areas that span the food chain from farm to fork: farmed animal health and welfare; food safety; lifelong health; human nutrition; one health; precision agriculture and smart technologies; reducing waste; sustainable agricultural systems; and understanding and exploiting genomics.

We are advertising 38 projects and will be awarding up to 22 studentships through a competitive process. Project opportunities are available at Aberystwyth University, Brunel University, Cranfield University, University of Lincoln, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Reading, and University of Surrey.

DTP studentship programme

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. All DTP studentships include a professional internship. For standard studentships, this is not related to your research project but if your studentship is supported by an industry partner (CASE studentship), you will undertake a minimum 3-month placement with the partner.

Please explore our website to find out more about the DTP training programme; current projects at the partner universities, and meet some of our researchers.

Requirements

We are looking for applicants from a broad range of scientific backgrounds: agricultural sciences; analytical chemistry; arable farming; artificial intelligence; biochemistry; bioinformatics; biological science; biotechnology; data science; ecology, entomology, environmental chemistry, and geography;  food production and science; genomics; livestock farming, health and welfare; machine learning; mathematical modelling; microbiology; nutrition and soil science. You should have (or expect to graduate with) a minimum qualification of upper second-class honours degree from a UK university or equivalent qualification gained outside of the UK.

FoodBioSystems BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership

Funding

The four-year studentship funding covers tuition fees at the home rate, research project costs and an annual tax-free stipend. UKRI set the stipend rate each year (currently £19,237 or £21,337 for students registered at Brunel University). UK and international candidates are eligible to apply, we anticipate awarding a maximum of six studentships to candidates who require a student visa to study in the UK..

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The FoodBioSystems DTP is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in our recruitment and training practices. We want to build a doctoral researcher and staff body that reflects the diversity of society, and to encourage applications from under-represented and disadvantaged groups. During 2025 recruitment, we offer a guaranteed interview scheme and a mentoring scheme for UK applicants from eligible under-represented ethnic groups.

We offer reasonable adjustments at interview for shortlisted candidates who have disclosed a disability or specific learning difference.

How to Apply

Applicants should go to https://research.reading.ac.uk/foodbiosystems/apply-for-a-foodbiosystems-phd/for-phd-students-2/

Closing date: 10.00 GMT on Monday 3 February 2025

FoodBioSystems BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership
FoodBioSystems BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership