Dr P Robson
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
For full details of this project please visit: http://kess2.ac.uk/au30005/
The pressures on conventional agriculture and rural economies, the increase in urban populations and the need for sustainable food with shorter supply chains all highlight the need for new ways to grow crops. A studentship is available to work with a company that plans to create a vertical farm in N. Wales. The studentship will develop the technical knowhow to grow micro-Kale using aeroponic cultivation and develop methods for cultivation of dwarf Hops at the vertical farm. Hops production will be linked to local artisan microbreweries an important sector in Wales. Kale is an increasingly popular, high carotenoid, functional food and represents a value crop that is distinctive to the micro salad often cultivated in vertical farms; this knowledge will form the basis of growing other similar crops e.g. micro herbs.
The project will test the use of aeroponics because this system of cultivation has potential benefits of highly efficient water use, promotes aerated root formation, does not require soil substrate for cultivation and is therefore a flexible, low input form of agriculture readily applicable to vertical farms.
Our aims are to:
• Grow different Kale under LED lights in aeroponic growth systems to screen for the most suitable type for yield accumulation and quality.
• Grow the selected Kale variety under different growth conditions including varying light and nutrient status to optimise yield and nutritional content.
• Establish micro-hops in long term hydroponics to produce a supply of rhizome and screen several available micro-Hops varieties for growth in hydroponics.
• Investigate further the regulatory control of flowering in hops toward a vertical farming solution for Hops cultivation under controlled growth systems.
This studentship would suit a person that has a background in Biology but has some understanding of Plant Physiology and / or Horticulture. The individual will be a creative innovator interested in science that has an impact on our future and has an interest in working in a promising new business sector in Wales. S/he must be numerate, possess strong writing skills and be able to project manage with a focus on responding to targets and delivering output.
Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS 2) is a pan-Wales higher level skills initiative led by Bangor University on behalf of the HE sector in Wales. It is part funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) convergence programme for West Wales and the Valleys.
The successful candidate will need to be resident in the convergence area on registration, and must have the right to work in the region on qualification. The successful applicant should have a minimum of a 1st or good 2:1 in a relevant degree, and be available to take up the studentship by 1st October 2017. The project is part-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) through the European Union’s Convergence programme administered by the Welsh Government. KESS II PhD scholarships are collaborative awards with external partners. (Applicants need to only apply, they do not need to search for partners).
To apply, please submit the following to the Postgraduate Admissions Office (address below) by 17th September 2017.
1. A completed Research Programme Application Form, two references. Application and reference forms may be downloaded from http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/postgrad/howtoapply/
2. A completed KESS II Participant proposal form (put the reference number AU30005 in the top right hand box of the application form) and an up-to-date CV. KESS II application forms are available to download at the link below.
http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/rbi/staff-students/knowledge-economy-skills-scholarships/currentscholarshipvacanciesandapplicationforms/
3. A PhD proposal of up to 1,000 words where you expand on your experience and interests and describe why you are a good candidate for this research studentship. Please refer to the Project Description.
Value of Award: A stipend of £14,340 (rising in accordance with inflation for the remaining two years). Each scholarship has an additional budget for travel, equipment/consumables and training to support your research. KESS II PhD Scholarship holders do not pay fees.
Informal enquiries should be made to Dr Paul Robson at [Email Address Removed] or 01970 823091
Address for applications:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Recruitment & Admissions
Student Welcome Centre
Aberystwyth University
Aberystwyth
SY23 3FB
Quote Reference AU30005
Closing date for applications 17th September 2017
Funding Notes
Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS 2) is a pan-Wales higher level skills initiative led by Bangor University on behalf of the HE sector in Wales. It is part funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) convergence programme for West Wales and the Valleys.
Due to ESF funding, eligibility restrictions apply to this scholarship. To be eligible, the successful candidate will need to be resident in the Convergence Area of Wales on University registration, and must have the right to work in the region on qualification.
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