PhD Studentships – CIC-START PhD Programme

PhD Studentships – CIC-START PhD Programme

University of Dundee (in collaboration with Harper Adams University, University of Nottingham and the James Hutton Institute)
Dundee, Harper Adams, Invergowrie and other UK locations

The CIC-START PhD Programme offers a unique interdisciplinary doctoral training experience designed to address key challenges in sustainable agriculture and crop innovation. Funded through a BBSRC Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award , the programme brings together more than 20 academic and industry partners from the barley, potato, and cereals sectors , providing a rich environment for research that directly supports resilient, sustainable crop production and agri-food systems. Over four years, students will engage with cutting‑edge research projects embedded within a collaborative training community that bridges academia and industry, structured around real‑world agricultural needs. Every studentship includes full tuition fees, a UKRI‑standard stipend , and a research grant to support project costs, alongside opportunities for industrial placements and structured skills training.

The programme encompasses a diverse set of PhD project themes aligned to three strategic areas: sustainable agricultural systems (including precision phenotyping, breeding, AI and big data applications), crop and soil health (with emphasis on pest management and root‑soil interactions), and waste and greenhouse gas reduction (addressing resource efficiency and post‑harvest losses). Students can select from projects such as developing perennial grain crops for regenerative agriculture, exploring legacy soil phosphorus to enhance barley production, advancing high‑throughput phenotyping for potato quality traits, investigating plant‑virus‑vector interactions for disease control, and unlocking genetic recombination to accelerate barley breeding innovations. Each project offers hands‑on training, interdisciplinary research engagement, and opportunities to present findings to both academic and industrial stakeholders.

Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must hold (or expect to achieve) a relevant undergraduate or master’s degree appropriate for PhD study. Selection considers academic merit and research potential in fields related to agricultural science, crop biology, soil science, plant physiology, genetics, or closely related disciplines. Students can express preferences for up to three projects in their application.

Required Expertise, Skills
Successful applicants will benefit from backgrounds in one or more of the following areas: plant science, soil biogeochemistry, plant physiology, crop genetics, agroecology, entomology, plant-microbe interactions, high‑throughput phenotyping, statistical analysis, experimental design, or related disciplines. Strong analytical skills, curiosity for interdisciplinary research, and an enthusiasm for working across academic and industrial environments will support success in the programme.

Salary Details
Each studentship covers full tuition fees and provides an annual tax‑free stipend at the UKRI rate. A dedicated research grant is also provided to support project work and training activities throughout the four‑year programme.

Application Deadline
The closing date for applications is 3 April 2026 for projects beginning in autumn 2026.

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