DAERA Postgraduate Studentships Now Open
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has responsibility for food, farming, environment, fisheries, forestry, sustainability policy and the development of the rural sector in Northern Ireland.
Each year, DAERA funds a small number of postgraduate studentships for a three year period of research leading to a PhD qualification at a university in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland.
The research proposal must be in line with one of DAERA’s postgraduate studentship research needs under the following themes:
Production systems which are profitable, productive in international terms, resilient to external shocks and environmentally sustainable.
Supply chain functionality.
Novel and innovative NI agri-food products and processes.
Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning (EAT&L) to improve the general health and wellbeing of children, young people and adults.
Factors which can lead to low income or low uptake of services within agriculture and rural families.
Rural policy.
Recreational and social use of DAERA-owned forests, parks, monuments and public spaces.
Animal health and welfare.
Plant health.
Reduction of ammonia emissions and nitrogen deposition from agriculture.
Rivers, lakes, groundwater and coastal areas.
Marine and fisheries.
Soil and nutrient management practices.
Developing the circular economy and sustainable waste management.
Terrestrial ecosystems and natural capital.
Agri-environment schemes.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation.
When applying for a studentship, applicants must include a unique research proposal supported by at least one supervisor from the proposed study centre.
Applicants must:
Be ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland for the full three-year period before the first day of the first academic year of the course or (for fees only) resident elsewhere in the European Economic Area or Switzerland throughout the three-year period immediately preceding the date of submitting an application for an award.
Be a British citizen, EU national or relevant family member of an EU national. The candidate may be eligible for support if they are the child of either a Swiss national or Turkish worker, or if they have indefinite leave to stay in the UK.
Already have/expect to have a higher education qualification at a minimum of 2.1, or have/expect to have a lower second class honours degree plus a Master’s degree in a subject of direct relevance to the proposed research topic.
Candidates must provide official, final results of qualifications used to meet the academic requirements before the start of the studentship.
A full DAERA award includes the cost of approved fees as well as maintenance support. Other expenses that may be covered are:
Conference expenses (if presenting own research).
Research Training Support Grant.
Overseas fieldwork (DAERA may contribute to costs where it is essential to the research programme).
Fees are paid directly to the university. Funding is provided for three years.
Applications must be submitted by the deadline of 25 February 2020 (midnight).
More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.