Postgraduate funding worth £70,000 on offer from AHDB

Postgraduates looking to complete a PhD in a topic that could help the farming industry can apply for funding worth over £70,000 from the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board.

AHDB has issued a call for proposals for up to 15 PhDs to UK universities, colleges and research institutes as part of its work to develop a new generation of agricultural and horticultural scientific expertise.

The funds committed by AHDB equate to £70,500 per studentship, which can be split over three or four years. In total, the fund is worth £1m.

See also: Leap in numbers studying postgraduate agriculture courses

Applicants must detail how the proposed research will help meet the priorities of one or more of the six levy sectors – beef & lamb, cereals & oilseeds, dairy, horticulture, pork and potatoes.

Kim Matthews, chairman of the AHDB studentship programme, said: “Once again we are seeking the best and brightest of the UK’s scientific talent to bring innovative research ideas to the table.

“We want to see practical, applied scientific solutions to the challenges facing industry, whether affecting one particular sector or with applications across the piece.

“AHDB funds around 50 PhDs at any one time and we consider it a critical part of our support for the agricultural and horticultural sectors to ensure a fresh stock of talented young professionals are encouraged into our exciting industry.”

The closing date for applications is midday on 19 September. All applications received by that date will be reviewed and awards announced mid-January.

Students must apply through their academic institution as direct applications will not be accepted.

For the first time this year, one of the studentships will be jointly funded by the AgriFood Charities Partnership and AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds.

To be eligible for this special award, applications must be on a soils related subject and involve one of the agricultural charities’ long term experimental sites.

Further information and details of how to apply can be found on the postgraduate funding section of the AHDB website.