Funding

Competition funded (UK/EU and international students)

Project code

SM&I8960124

Department

School of Strategy, Marketing, and Innovation

Start dates

October 2024

Application deadline

19 January 2024

Applications are invited for a fully-funded three year PhD to commence in October 2024. 

The PhD will be based in the Faculty of Business and Law, and will be supervised by Dr Andy Jin and Professor Paul Trott. 

Candidates applying for this project may be eligible to compete for one of a small number of bursaries available. Successful applicants will receive a bursary to cover tuition fees for three years and a stipend in line with the UKRI rate (£18,622 for 2023/24). Bursary recipients will also receive £2,000 for fieldwork purposes.

Costs for student visa and immigration health surcharge are not covered by this bursary. For further guidance and advice visit our international and EU students ‘Visa FAQs’ page.

The work on this project could involve:

  • Holistic understanding of dairy farming systems in the UK context.

  • Using different social science research methods.

  • Collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders.

In the UK, dairy had the highest value of output of all agricultural sectors in 2020, at £4.8bn. To optimise current dairy farming and accelerate the achievement of the Net Zero target, UK dairy farming needs to align with stakeholders’ preferences and priorities regarding dairy production and consumption, harmonise with diffusion of nature-based solutions, and transform into more sustainable processes and systems. This, however, requires a holistic understanding of current UK dairy farming system within UK social, cultural and policy contexts, including considering the increased Post-Brexit production, market and policy uncertainties.

This PhD project aims to accomplish four interlinked objectives:

  1. to comprehend the existing network of stakeholders involved in dairy farming in the UK, as well as the potential change to this network in the future.
  2. to co-define sustainable dairy farming with the public and various stakeholders.
  3. to holistically investigate barriers to, and catalysts for, advancing more sustainable practices in UK dairy farming, along with the associated risk factors.
  4. to develop an innovation and risk management framework for UK dairy farming businesses to accelerate the transition towards greater sustainability.

Entry requirements

You'll need a good first degree from an internationally recognised university (minimum upper second class or equivalent, depending on your chosen course) or a Master’s degree in an appropriate subject. In exceptional cases, we may consider equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

No

How to apply

We’d encourage you to contact Dr Andy Jin (andy.jin@port.ac.uk) to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project code.

When you are ready to apply, you can use our . Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV. Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process. 

Please also include a research proposal of 1,000 words outlining the main features of your proposed research design – including how it meets the stated objectives, the challenges this project may present, and how the work will build on or challenge existing research in the above field. 

If you want to be considered for this funded PhD opportunity you must quote project code SM&I8960124 when applying. Please note that email applications are not accepted.