CIC-START PhD Programme

University of Dundee - The Crop Innovation Centre

The Crop Innovation Centre - Skills, Technology and Research Training Programme (CIC-START) is an industrial doctoral landscape award (IDLA) funded by BBSRC that tackles skills shortages in UK agriculture by training researchers who can translate crop science into practical innovations.

This collaboration between the Universities of Dundee, Nottingham, Harper Adams and the James Hutton Institute brings on board more than 20 industrial partners from across the barley, potato and cereals sectors. The programme will support resilient, sustainable production and will deliver benefits across crop supply chains with research projects aligned to three broad themes:

• Sustainable agricultural systems - resilient production via crop management and genetics, using precision phenotyping, new breeding technologies, AI and big data.
• Crop and soil health - resistance and integrated pest management (including AI-driven prediction) and improving the root-soil interface (carbon, water and nutrient availability; cover crops).
• Waste and GHG reductions - reducing inputs and losses, improving resource-use efficiency, mitigating emissions, and reducing post-harvest damage (e.g., bruising/spoilage).

Our 4-year PhD programme offers students the opportunity to become part of a collaborative community of researchers from both academia and industry. Each studentship covers full tuition fees, a stipend at the UKRI rate and a research grant to support project costs.

What you will gain:

• A high-quality PhD project embedded in a wider programme with strong academic and industry engagement - projects and training are co-created with industry to stay focused on real-world needs and include an industrial placement
• Structured training in general and specialist skills and individual development planning aligned to the Vitae Researcher Development Framework.
• Knowledge-exchange opportunities through placements and programme events, with regular chances to present your work to academic and industry stakeholders.
• A positive, supportive culture with clear feedback routes, and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (including flexible participation options for many projects).

How to apply

Projects available for September/October 2026 entry, more details on the individual projects are below, you can select up to three choices in your application form.

Complete your application form through the Apply Now link

The deadline for applications is Friday 3rd April 2026

Project 26A - Soil-saving, carbon-catching perennial grains - the spirit of regenerative agriculture?

Supervisors:

• Lead Supervisor – Dr. Ed Dickin, Harper Adams University
• Additional Supervisors – Prof. Jim Monaghan, Harper Adams University & Prof. David Cook, University of Nottingham
• Industrial Supervisor – Prof Debbie Sparkes, Diageo

Location
This project will be based at Harper Adams University, Centre for Crop and Environmental Science