Physical Sciences for Sustainable Agriculture

The University of Oxford is proposing to establish an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training at the physical and plant science interface.

The Departments of Plant Science and Chemistry at the University of Oxford are proposing to establish an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Physical Sciences for Sustainable Agriculture.

There are multiple compounding challenges facing agriculture in the coming decades that are exacerbated by population growth and climate change. There is therefore a real need for new technologies for sustainable solutions. Chemistry and related physical sciences have significant and untapped potential to address these challenges. To capitalise on this potential, the UK requires a dedicated programme for training doctoral students at the physical and plant science interface.

The University of Oxford’s CDT intends to fulfil this requirement, supporting students to become innovative future leaders in the field. They would train graduate students in state-of-the-art chemical and physical science expertise, fundamental aspects of plant sciences and core scientific skills. They would then participate in a stakeholder engagement programme to expose them to a breadth of real-world challenges faced by the sector.

Collectively this training would enable students to identify challenges and partners who are seeking solutions to these challenges, then to design highly collaborative and application-focussed projects to develop solutions. Student-led project design will drive innovation and maximise impact of the cohort. They are seeking multi-level industrial engagement to enhance the training quality of the CDT and to build collaborative relationships.

The University of Oxford is currently looking for companies in the agricultural sector interested in the CDT – if you would like to be put in touch with the University of Oxford CDT team, please contact a member of the KTN Agri-food team.