FixOurFood PhD Studentships: Pathways to a Regenerative Food System

Study regenerative food systems with an interdisciplinary focus in Yorkshire.

  • Funding: Tax-free annual UKRI stipend (£16,062 for 2022/23); UK tuition fees (£4,596 for 2022/23); research support and training charges (RSTC)
  • Academic year: 2022/23
  • Open to: UK (home) students
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research
Applications for 2022/23 are closed.

The new School for Business and Society at the University of York are delighted to offer a fully-funded 3-year PhD studentship aligned to the FixOurFood interdisciplinary research programme. The studentship offers a unique opportunity for candidates to join the multidisciplinary FixOurFood team – shaping their own research, integrated with researchers from different disciplines and institutions, and with a strong ethos of co-design with external stakeholders.

The FixOurFood interdisciplinary research programme is part of the UKRI Transforming Food Systems programme. We bring together social sciences, natural sciences and data science to learn how to transform the Yorkshire food system to one which prioritises dietary health as the norm particularly in young people, a food economy that is purpose driven, providing positive social and environmental change through innovation and which sources produce from farmers who promote soil health, carbon sequestration, biodiversity and nutritious food.

FixOurFood works with multiple stakeholders across the Yorkshire region in production, supply chain and consumption to achieve its aims. The programme has three main areas of focus; regenerative farming, purpose driven business models and sustainable healthy food for children. Alongside those themes, work is also taking place to better understand the complex governance and policy landscape in the region, while detailed work on the metrics of the environmental impact of food will lead to a dashboard that will help inform decision making in the Yorkshire food system and beyond. These areas are integrated to ensure a food system approach is taken at each step. We are looking for creative PhD proposals that contribute to novel innovative thinking within the FixOurFood programme.

The University of York is committed to recruiting regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and we have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in academia, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills.

Successful candidates (entry in October 2022) will have the opportunity to shape their own research project in conjunction with supervisors.

Start date: 1 October 2022 (the student will be affiliated with the School for Business and Society). Appointed candidates will be fully funded for 3 years.

Supervisors: Bob Doherty, Peter Ball

Contact details

UYMS PhD Enquiries

management-phd@york.ac.uk