PhD Opportunities
We are not currently advertising studentships.
Information for current applicants
Timetable for selection
Information to support you during the selection process is in the applicant guidance document and is summarised below:
Being a FoodBioSystems DTP funded student
As a FoodBioSystems postgraduate researcher student you will undertake training that leads towards a PhD and equips you with extra skills and knowledge to support your future career. Your research project will be co-supervised across two institutes within our academic partnership and you will take part in our training programme to gain a core understanding of food systems, data analysis and modelling. You will also follow a programme of subject specific learning, depending on your needs. In addition, you will carry out a professional internship (generally not related to the research project).
You will receive a tax free stipend (salary) for four years so that you can benefit from the DTP training programme in addition to completing your research and submitting your thesis within 4 years registration period. £18,622 (or £20,622 (including £2,000 London allowance) for a studentship based at Brunel University). The pay increases slightly each year at rate set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Please also explore our website to find our more about the DTP training programme, current projects at the 6 partner universities and meet some of our researchers to check out what they have said about their research and training experiences so far.
How we select students
Applications received before the closing date and time are considered in two stages:
Shortlisting
Applications are checked for academic and funding eligibility. Eligible applications are anonymised and then considered by the PhD project supervisors. They mark the application answers against the assessment criteria. At this stage supervisors do not know the name, contact details or degree-awarding university of applicants. The four highest scoring candidates for each project will be invited to interview.
Interviews and selection panel assessment
Interviews
If your application is shortlisted you will receive an invitation to an online interview (on Skype, Teams or Zoom). As part of the interview, you will be asked to give a short research presentation (maximum five minutes) followed by five minutes for questions about the presentation. Additional questions will explore:
- Your motivation to do a PhD with the FoodBioSystems DTP
- How your skills and experience prepare you for the specific project
- Other questions about impact of the research, problem solving skills and career plans
Selection panel assessment
If you are selected for an interview, a panel of reviewers from the DTP Selection Committee will also assess the written answers from your application form. They will not know your name, contact details or degree-awarding university at this stage.
Assessment criteria
We ask applicants to provide information about their academic qualifications, research experience and transferable skills. It is essential that all applicants (including those applying for a guaranteed interview) provide full answers in their written application, as these are assessed at least once during the selection process.
The table below shows what essential criteria the DTP is looking for in our PhD student candidates and where in the selection process we assess those criteria.
| Essential Selection Criteria | Stage Assessed | ||
| Shortlisting | Interview | Selection Panel review of application form answers | |
| Academic qualifications and background | x | x | |
| Academic and technical understanding of the research topic presented during the interview | x | ||
| Project specific research experience and technical skills | x | x | |
| General research experience and technical skills | x | x | |
| Ability to relate own skills to the proposed PhD project | x | ||
| Transferable skills | x | x | x |
| Understanding of the UK agri-food sector | x | x | x |
| Motivation for choosing the FoodBioSystems DTP | x | x | |
| Awareness of how this PhD fits into own career plans | x | x | |
The selection panel will make the final decision on project allocation, considering applicants’ performance at interview and reviewer assessments of written answers.