The UK Food Systems Centre for Doctoral Training (UKFS-CDT) provides a unique opportunity for transformative and interdisciplinary food systems research. Led by the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich, the UKFS-CDT aims to develop the next generation of food system change makers for a healthy and sustainable food future.
From 2021 through to 2027, the UKFS-CDT will train over 60 interdisciplinary doctoral researchers capable of leading the UK towards a resilient, healthy and inclusive food future. Cohort 2 will start in autumn of 2022.
This 4-year programme is aimed at graduates with a strong interest in multi-disciplinary research and interdisciplinary food systems perspectives. Understanding the complex food system challenges requires holistic and novel interdisciplinary thinking. We invite highly motivated individuals from a wide range of academic or career backgrounds including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and physical sciences to apply.
The UKFS-CDT Academy provides a platform for collaboration, bringing together our doctoral researchers, academic supervisors, and over 70 partners from across government, business and civil society. The UKFS-CDT Academy is a dynamic learning network that brings together doctoral researchers, academic supervisors, and our associate partners from government, business and civil society organisations. Our doctoral researchers will collaborate with partners in the Academy to co-create and disseminate new knowledge with lasting impact. The co-design of doctoral projects between students and Academy partners is central to the UKFS-CDT Programme. Placements with our Academy partners will provide unique networking opportunities to improve the employment prospects our students and support the transition of graduates into the workplace.
Our nine consortium partners include: the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich, University College London, Royal Veterinary College, Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University, Centre for Food Policy at City University, University of Sussex, and Brunel University London; and two leading agricultural research institutes, NIAB EMR and Rothamsted Research.
Our associate partners from business, government and civil society collectively provide specialist knowledge and expertise throughout the UK food system. All Academy partners contribute to the UKFS-CDT in at least one of the following ways:
- Engage in Academy activities;
- Help set research priorities;
- Support the co-design of research projects;
- Act as research partners in co-designed projects;
- Provide placementsfor our students;
- Contribute to UKFS-CDT training activities;
- Fund/co-fund PhD projects.
