GCRF AgriFood Africa PhD Studentship Placements

KTN is pleased to announce two PhD student Professional Intern Placement opportunities in 2020 as part of the GCRF AgriFood Africa programme.

The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) is a £1.5 billion fund to support cutting-edge research which addresses the problems faced by developing countries. GCRF forms part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment and will be awarded in a manner that fits with ODA guidelines. For further information see: UK Research and Innovation: Global Challenges Research Fund.

Innovate UK has recently secured GCRF funding to extend activities initiated through the Department for International Development (DFID) funded Agri-Tech Catalyst.

The Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) is pleased to announce an opportunity for two PhD student Professional Intern Placements (e.g. Doctoral Training Programme PIPs) for a period of up to 3 months starting in 2020 based at either the KTN Edinburgh or London office. The competition for this placement will open on 29th November 2019 via a web-based application form, and the deadline for applications is midnight Monday January 6th 2020. We will interview prospective students in January, with successful candidates notified by 31st January 2020. Placements must have commenced before the end of 2020 with a preference for at least one placement to begin before the end of March 2020.

 

What is the opportunity?

The candidate will be a PhD student with a UKRI- or other funded studentship and this opportunity is for the placement component of the studentship. We are looking for someone with an interest in innovation in the food system within Africa and its potential for impact on poverty as described in the programme scope outlined below. We welcome applications from a biological, chemical, engineering economic or social sciences background.

The PhD student should be in receipt of a stipend from their host institution or funding so this opportunity covers the additional costs of working in the Edinburgh office for the 3-month period including an allowance for accommodation and paid travel and subsistence for activities undertaken whilst on placement up to a total of £5000.

We expect to launch further competitions for PhD student placements over the course of 2020 with up to four placements available in total.

The GCRF AgriFood Africa programme aims to support innovative ideas from any sector or discipline for a positive impact on poverty through the uptake of agricultural and food systems technology and innovation. This includes:

• primary crop and livestock production, including aquaculture
• improving the availability and accessibility of safe, healthy and nutritious foods
• challenges in food processing, distribution or storage, and value addition (such as through a change in the physical state or form of the product)
• non-food uses of crops, excluding ornamentals and crops for energy use