Applications are open for the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training (SUSTAIN) PhD programme, offering a fully funded four-year doctoral opportunity for researchers interested in artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, food systems, and climate resilience. The programme is designed to combine advanced AI research with real-world challenges affecting agriculture, food production, environmental sustainability, and food security.
The programme is available for October 2027 entry and involves research across several UK universities, including the University of Lincoln, University of Aberdeen, Queen’s University Belfast, and University of Strathclyde. Several projects also involve external research organisations and industry partners.
About the SUSTAIN PhD Programme
SUSTAIN is a UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training focused on applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to challenges within sustainable agriculture and agri-food systems.
Doctoral researchers will develop advanced technical and analytical skills while working on research questions connected to areas such as soil health, livestock sustainability, crop monitoring, supply chains, carbon farming, climate adaptation, and animal and plant health.
The multidisciplinary structure enables students from relevant STEM and related disciplines to apply AI to practical environmental and agricultural problems.
PhD Funding and Benefits
The SUSTAIN programme provides substantial financial support throughout the four-year PhD.
Successful students will receive:
- Full PhD tuition fees
- Tax-free doctoral stipend
- £3,000 per year Research Training Support Grant
- Advanced multidisciplinary training
- Access to research facilities and specialist expertise
- Academic supervision and research development opportunities
- Opportunities to work on real-world agricultural and sustainability challenges
The funding package is intended to support doctoral study and research-related activities throughout the programme.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants should normally hold one of the following:
- A minimum 2:1 Bachelor’s degree, or
- A Master’s degree with Merit
Relevant academic backgrounds may include:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Biotechnology
- Agriculture
- Food Science
- Environmental Science
- Engineering
- Sustainability
- Other related STEM disciplines
Previous professional or academic experience in agriculture or the agri-food sector is not required, meaning applicants with strong AI, computing, data, engineering, or related backgrounds may also be considered.
Available PhD Research Projects
The programme offers several research themes addressing different aspects of sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Animal and Plant Health Diagnostics Under Climate Change (Q2125) focuses on machine learning, parasite transmission, and health prediction using datasets from smallholder farms in Africa. The project aims to support One Health decision-making and may contribute to the development of a smartphone application.
AI for Sustainable Livestock Assessment (Q3452) explores AI-supported methods for assessing livestock systems using multiple sustainability criteria.
AI for Antifungal Resistance Prediction (Q3139) focuses on Candida pathogenic yeast, using sequencing, experimental data, and AI to identify resistance signatures and predict susceptibility to potential treatments.
Federated Learning for Sustainable Livestock Systems (Q3135) investigates trustworthy AI, federated learning, and digital twin technologies to address issues including nutrient runoff, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with livestock production.
AI for Sustainable Agri-Food Supply Chains (A2227) applies game-theoretic and probabilistic approaches to examine logistics, resource allocation, emissions, fairness, resilience, and sustainability across food supply chains.
Radar and Optical AI for Crop Production (S4155) combines radar, optical, and hyperspectral data with AI to improve agricultural monitoring and crop production.
ETHIO SENSE (A4156) focuses on smallholder farming in Ethiopia, including soil health, carbon monitoring, climate-smart crop production, land degradation, fertiliser decisions, and water management.
AI-Enabled Carbon Farming (A4154) combines field observations, remote sensing, and AI to estimate carbon outcomes and support climate-resilient smallholder agriculture.
AI-Based Pest Detection (L4153) develops advanced monitoring systems for sugar beet pest management. This specific project is listed as Home Students Only.
Universities and Research Environment
Research is distributed across participating universities. The University of Aberdeen contributes projects involving carbon farming, soil health, supply chains, and climate-smart agriculture. Queen’s University Belfast hosts projects covering animal and plant health, livestock sustainability, AI, and antifungal resistance. The University of Lincoln contributes research involving livestock and agricultural AI, while the University of Strathclyde supports research in remote sensing, crop monitoring, and agricultural AI.
Application Deadline
The deadline for applications is 12 noon UK time on Friday, 16 October 2026.
Applicants should review the individual project requirements carefully because eligibility conditions can vary between research projects.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should review the available SUSTAIN PhD projects and identify a research topic that matches their academic background and interests. Applications should be submitted through the relevant official university or programme application route before the stated deadline.
Applicants should prepare their academic documents and demonstrate how their skills and research interests align with their selected project.
Deadline: 16 October 2026 at 12 noon UK time
VISIT HERE TO APPLY
