NIAB East Malling is offering two fully funded interdisciplinary PhD studentships through the UK Food Systems Centre for Doctoral Training (UKFS-CDT) programme

The UKFS-CDT programme provides a unique opportunity for transformative and interdisciplinary food systems research. Offering an innovative way of conducting a PhD centred on the co-creation of, and exposure to, a varied range of actors operating in UK food systems.

Are you a potential ‘changemaker’? The UKFS-CDT aims to create cohorts of future food systems changemakers who can lead the UK towards a resilient, healthy and inclusive food future using new, holistic and critical interdisciplinary thinking. The studentships join a cohort of 26 studentships.

These opportunities are only open to people classed as home students – please see the eligibility criteria for more details.

Where: The first year is based at Medway campus, Kent, Natural Resources Institute (NRI), University of Greenwich (UoG), including travel for rotations. Years 2 – 4 based at NIAB East Malling.

When: Start October 2023, for 4 years (FTE)

Deadline: Monday, 18th September 2023

Eligibility: Applicants must hold, or be expected to achieve, a Bachelor or Masters degree in a relevant subject with a first or high upper second-class undergraduate honours degree or equivalent.

Research will be interdisciplinary. Here are examples of the research scope:

• Business as usual is unsustainable: We must produce healthier foods, using appropriate phosphorus inputs
• Antimicrobial potential of UK's edible mushrooms for sustainable crop protection
• Impacts of Precision Agriculture Tools in Orchard Crops

The UKFS-CDT is led by NRI-University of Greenwich in partnership with, UCL, Royal Veterinary College, IBERS-Aberystwyth University, Centre for Food Policy-City University, University of Sussex, Brunel University London; and two leading agricultural research institutes, NIAB East Malling and Rothamsted Research, plus food systems Academy partners from business, government and civil society.

In the first year, each student undertakes training activities based at the NRI in Medway, Kent. Then students will embark on two 4-month ‘rotation’ projects.

‘Rotations’ are clearly defined studies (as per the above research scope examples) designed to provide the research skills, training and subject knowledge required. The combination of the two rotations will form the foundation for creating the full interdisciplinary PhD proposal at the end of year 1, developed and finalised by the student, supervisors, and partners from the Food System Academy. The PhD project will commence in year 2 with the student based at NIAB East Malling.

Each student will initially register as a student with the UoG. After the first 12 months, when the PhD research starts, student registration will be transferred to the University of the second supervisor.

We welcome applicants who have demonstratable research skills gained from an academic or non-academic background, and values equality, diversity, inclusion. We welcome applications from anyone regardless of age, disability, race/ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. We encourage individuals who have had worked in relevant sectors, a change in disciplines or career paths, or career breaks, e.g. caring responsibilities, to apply.

Interested applicants continue to read the website and apply before the deadline.