Research Studentships

PhD Studentship

Unveiling the natural sulphur potential of biological nitrogen fixation in faba bean

Supervisory Team: Dr Ravi Valluru

This PhD aims to understand the potential nature of sulphur on biological nitrogen fixation in faba beans. Sulphur is an essential mineral nutrient for plant growth and development; important for primary and specialized plant metabolites that are crucial for biotic and abiotic interactions. Sulphur also plays a crucial role in biological nitrogen fixation, a natural process belonging to legumes that symbiosis with bacteria through root nodules to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Root nodules have a high demand for sulphur. In nodulated legumes, biological nitrogen fixation is more sensitive to sulphur deficiency than nitrate uptake. However, the natural sources of gypsum-mine-derived sulphur-containing by-product’s effect on plant growth, development and biological nitrogen fixation is largely unexplored. This 3.5-year project will unveil the functional relationship between sulphur nutrition and biological nitrogen fixation in faba beans using 15N stable isotopes.

Training and Development

The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training including technical, personal, and professional skills. All researchers at University of Lincoln are part of the Doctoral College and College of Health and Science wider postgraduate community, which provides support with high quality training and career development opportunities.

Funding

This PhD studentship is fully funded and covers University fees for 3.5 years.

Entry requirements for applicants to PhD

A Master’s (honours) degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum mark of 60% in the project element (or equivalent), and the potential to engage in innovative research, and to complete the PhD within 3.5 years.

How to Apply

To find out more about the project, please contact Dr Ravi Valluru (rvalluru@lincoln.ac.uk).

Applications will require a two-page CV and a 2000-word supporting statement, showing how the applicant's expertise and interests are relevant to the project. 

Fully funded MSc by Research position available

The detection and control of food pathogens is important as they cause 2.4 million cases of human illness in the UK at a cost of £9.1 billion annually. This burden of foodborne disease is predicted to worsen hospitalisations due to foodborne bacteria have doubled in the last 25 years and the escalating antimicrobial resistances of foodborne pathogens is making these diseases less treatable.

The food industry heavily relies on swab tests for hygiene control and ISO detection methods have turnaround times of up to 3 days: this prevents food manufacturers from being able to rapidly detect pathogens and therefore implement fast and agile responses to the presence of pathogens.

This project aims to reduce the burden of foodborne diseases by enabling the food sector to rapidly detect pathogens using rapid and innovative tests that will complement the existing testing system. These tests will be based on lateral flow dipsticks and will function as an early indicator of pathogen presence based on the isothermal amplification of specific DNA from target pathogens.

The ideal candidate will have experience with DNA extraction, PCR and other molecular biology techniques. Experience of DNA sequence alignment, primers design, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) of nucleic acids and microbiology techniques would also be extremely beneficial. We are looking for a motivated, self-directed individual that is focused on delivering outputs. 

The successful candidate must be enrolled full-time and will receive a tax-free stipend of £19,237 in total and receive a contribution to their fees of £4,786 in total, which will cover the first year of ‘home’ fee costs. International students may apply but will need to make up the balance of the International fee costs.

This MSc is fully funded by Eurofins Food and Water testing UK Ltd and the successful candidate will work closely with the company, including visiting their sites, and there is a possibility of employment with Eurofins after the degree subject to performance and availability of openings.

Supervisors: Dr Enrico Ferrari and Prof Mat Goddard

Location: Joseph Banks Laboratories, University of Lincoln

Start date: September 2025

If you wish to apply for this position, please send an email to cohsstudentships@lincoln.ac.uk with “Eurofins MSc” as a header and the following attachments:

1) a covering letter explaining why you want to undertake this MSc and your relevant experience, and

2) a full CV (with 2 referees).

Closing date: 17^th July 2025

All application will be assessed, and we expect to hold interviews to aid the selection process on Wednesday the 23^rd of July 2025. Once a potential candidate is chosen they will be required to formally apply to the University for a MSc by Research position: please note the University entry requirement for this is a first or upper second class honours degree in a relevant subject, found here: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/course/mbiresms/

We encourage applications from all backgrounds.

For any informal enquiries please contact Dr Ferrari: eferrari@lincoln.ac.uk

Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health – PhD Studentship Opportunities

Do you want to shed light on place-based health inequalities and contribute to improving the health and wellbeing outcomes experienced by rural, coastal and remote communities?

Applications are invited for fully funded, three-year PhD Studentships within the Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health (LIRCH), the country’s first integrated, multidisciplinary research Institute dedicated to rural and coastal health research. With £10.9m of funding from Research England, this innovative centre is striving to understand the intersection between place-based deprivation and poorer outcomes for health and wellbeing. Successful students will work on projects that aim to make a real difference for affected communities, by investigating challenges including but not limited to aging populations, healthcare workforce shortages, housing issues, and transportation challenges.

There are 4 studentship opportunities available in LIRCH from August 2025. Students will focus their research within one of our core research themes, while developing their own skills and knowledge as researchers. The topics we are seeking to explore through PhD studies are below, with full details available at the end of this advert.

• Uncovering the impacts of climate multi-hazards on health outcomes across diverse landscapes
• Understanding and addressing oral health inequalities in rural communities in the UK
• Rural and coastal cancer care
• Geospatial health equity 

The LIRCH fully funded studentship package includes:

• PhD tuition fees paid (home fee rate*).
• Tax-free stipend at UKRI rates to cover living costs.
• Research Training Support Grant (RTSG).
• Additional funding available to support skills development, outreach and dissemination, attendance at summer schools, and research events.

Students can also expect to benefit from the opportunity to develop their career, working alongside and in collaboration with experienced and supportive academic colleagues, as well as joining an existing cohort of students working in a similar field.

This is a fantastic opportunity to support the development of a research agenda to understand and improve the health and wellbeing inequalities faced by rural, coastal and remote communities.

*For international students, the equivalent of home fees will be paid by the Institute. The remainder will be payable by the student.

Applications

If you are a dynamic, focussed graduate with a first or upper second-class honours degree, a Master's degree or equivalent professional experience, then we want to hear from you. The current round of applications closes on 7 July 2025.

Apply now by sending the following documents to the LIRCH team for consideration: lirch@lincoln.ac.uk with the subject of: PGR Application.

• Your CV (no longer than 2 pages).
• Covering letter.
• Personal statement (no longer than 1 page) that includes information on your research and teaching and professional practice experience and vision for how you would like to develop your research and teaching in the future. The personal statement should outline how your qualifications, skills and experience meet the requirements.
• Contact details for at least two academic references.
• Transcript of your first degree.
• Transcript(s) of any previous degrees.

Project outlines

Uncovering the impacts of climate multi-hazards on health outcomes across diverse landscapes

Summary: Climate-driven hazards like high temperatures, flooding and drought have direct and indirect impacts on the physical and mental health of societies. Most research considers the impact of individual hazards (e.g., heatwaves) on discrete health outcomes (e.g., heatstroke). In reality, most if not all climate-driven hazards precipitate additional secondary hazards, such as the impact of flooding on landslides, and the cumulative effect of drought and heatwaves on the physical and mental health of farming communities. Very little is understood about multi-hazard-to-health-outcome transitions, including how pathways vary between urban, rural, and coastal areas. In England, coastal communities are exposed to unique hazards associated with oceanic processes like storm surges, often within immediate landscapes of health service scarcity situated in wider rural hinterlands with similar health access challenges.

The Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health (LIRCH) welcomes PhD proposals that seek to explore multi-hazard-to-health-outcome pathways across diverse geospatial landscapes including the UK, focusing on challenges that emerge at the intersection of hazard exposure and health service access and availability. Potential projects should involve multi-data analytics (e.g., health and climate/environmental data) and could include a range of data science methods, such as utilising geographical information systems (GIS), statistical analysis, machine learning, deep learning, or a combination of data science and qualitative methods (e.g., interviews and focus groups). Project themes include (but are not limited to) exploring the impact of heat-related meteorological multi-hazards on physical/mental health, investigating associations between meteorological conditions (e.g., temperature), greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, air quality, and health outcomes, and considering the cumulative impact of coastal, fluvial, and groundwater flooding on the physical and mental health of diverse geospatial areas. Multi-region studies involving critically comparing multi-hazard-to-health-outcome pathways it the UK and elsewhere are appropriate. For informal inquiries, please contact Dr Harriet Moore (HaMoore@lincoln.ac.uk).

Understanding and addressing oral health inequalities in rural communities in the UK

Oral health inequalities represent a significant public health concern in the UK. These disparities are particularly pressing given the largely preventable nature of many oral health problems. Research consistently demonstrates a disproportionately higher burden of oral health inequalities in rural communities throughout the UK when compared to their urban counterparts. This manifests as significantly elevated rates of periodontal disease, dental caries, tooth loss and worse oral health-related quality of life among rural populations. Several interconnected risk factors contribute to the observed oral health inequalities in rural communities. These factors are not isolated but form an intersection of disadvantage including geographic isolation, prevailing socio-economic conditions and deprivation, ‘lifestyle’ factors and health literacy, cultural factors, and challenges in the availability of dental care professionals. While rurality itself presents vulnerabilities, the evidence suggests that specific sub-populations within rural areas, such as children and older adults, face even greater disparities highlighting the importance of an intersectional lens in understanding these complex challenges.

The overall aim of this PhD is to understand the drivers and lived experiences of oral health inequalities in rural UK communities and to make recommendations for evidence-based, context-specific interventions and policy approaches to reduce these disparities. The PhD project will employ a mixed-methods approach, in two distinct phases that logically progress from quantifying the problem to understanding lived experiences and informing solutions. Phase 1 focuses on quantifying the landscape of oral health inequalities, utilising secondary analysis of large-scale datasets and GIS mapping. Phase 2 explores the lived experiences of these inequalities, seeking to explain and contextualise the quantitative findings through interviews with diverse rural residents in Lincolnshire. Concurrently, interviews with local dental policymakers in selected rural areas will gather insights on existing initiatives, policy gaps, and resource allocation, providing a multi-stakeholder perspective for developing evidence-based solutions and recommendations. For informal enquiries, please contact Prof Sarah Baker (sbaker@lincoln.ac.uk).

Rural and coastal cancer care

It is widely recognised that inequalities exist between people affected by cancer from rural and coastal areas when compared to their urban counterparts. Coastal and rural areas suffer from reduced access to cancer services, socio-economic deprivation, workforce staffing issues and poor transport links and infrastructure. While recent studies have begun to explore the impact of ‘place of residence’ on cancer outcomes, the unique ecosystem of rural and coastal communities in the context of UK cancer care, policy and research has been largely neglected.

The Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health (LIRCH) welcomes PhD applications within this area that seek to address place-based cancer inequalities in the UK and/or across Europe where the evidence-base is comparatively smaller compared to the wider international literature. Potential topics can use a range of methods (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods) and could include: rural and coastal inequalities in access to cancer care and outcomes, rural and coastal cancer systems and services research, priorities for rural and coastal cancer policy and research development, the development and implementation of policy and place-based social science approaches to rural and coastal cancer care, improving patient and public involvement and engagement in rural and coastal cancer research. There is flexibility for the candidate to shape their own study as long as it falls within the remit outlined above. For informal inquiries, please contact Dr David Nelson (dnelson@lincoln.ac.uk).

Geospatial health equity 

Unequal and poor health outcomes in rural and coastal communities represent a pressing public health concern in the UK. Typical challenges in rural and coastal areas include socio-economic deprivation, geographic and social isolation, limited transport and infrastructure. How do these factors collectively shape health and health inequities across rural and coastal communities in the UK and beyond?

The Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health (LIRCH) welcomes PhD applications that address geospatial health inequities with a focus on rural and coastal communities. The overall aim of this PhD is to understand the multi-dimensional and intersectional drivers of health inequities for context-specific interventions to reduce health inequities in the UK and beyond. Topics may include but are not limited to geospatial inequalities in health, life expectancy, physical activity, and access to health services. Experience in participatory research approaches and spatial analytical techniques would be of particular interest. There is flexibility for the candidate to shape their own study within the remit outlined above. For informal inquiries, please contact Prof Yang Li (yali@lincoln.ac.uk).

Studentship One

Using AI to Manage Multi-species Grassland for Livestock Farming

Project No: FBS25-73-Parsons-lr

Supervisory Team: Professor Simon Parsons, University of Lincoln; Dr Zoe Barker, University of Reading; Professor Elizabeth Sklar, University of Lincoln

Producing plant matter for animal food is important for livestock farming, both for grazing and for 
making silage. This is typically done by growing fields of rye grass. Switching to a range of species, typically including 
other grasses, legumes like clover, and herbaceous plants like wildflowers, has benefits for the ecosystem and for the animals. The benefits for the ecosystem include improving soil quality, drought tolerance, and biodiversity. The benefits 
for animals include better health and less methane emissions. However, farmers are wary of growing multi-species 
grasslands because they do not understand how best to manage them. This project will gather evidence on management 
practice from ongoing work with multi-species grasslands, and use AI to analyse this evidence and present it farmers to 
help them manage their land.

Training Opportunities

The successful applicant will receive training in AI techniques, the use of the robotic and drone-based technologies which can be deployed in the field to obtain data on grassland, on field work elements like quadrat 
sampling and species identification, and on laboratory analysis. They will also undertake training in the responsible and 
ethical uses of AI.

Project Supervision

An online meeting with the entire supervisory team will be held once a month, and the lead supervisor will meet with the student weekly. These will be one-to-one in the sense that the DTP student will be the only student in those meetings (they will not be lab group meetings). Additional meetings with the wider supervisory group may be scheduled when appropriate (for example for planning field work during the growing season) and the student will participate in lab/group meetings where that is helpful for them. The lead supervisor has a longstanding policy of providing feedback on student paper drafts within 48 hours (in practice the turnaround is typically less). A schedule for feedback on thesis drafts (and sections thereof) varies depending on what exactly is being reviewed, but a schedule is agreed in advance.

Student Profile

This project will be of interest to candidates with either a background in agriculture or agricultural 
technology who are interested in artificial intelligence/machine learning, or to candidates with a background in artificial
intelligence/machine learning who are interested in agriculture. 

Stipend (Salary)

FoodBioSystems DTP students receive an annual tax free stipend (salary) that is paid in instalments throughout the year. 
For 2024/25 this is £19,237 and it will increase slightly each year at rate set by UKRI.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The FoodBioSystems DTP is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), to building a doctoral researcher (DR) and 
staff body that reflects the diversity of society, and to encourage applications from under-represented and disadvantaged groups. Our actions to promote diversity and inclusion are detailed on the FoodBioSystems DTP website and include:

• Offering reasonable adjustments at interview for shortlisted candidates who have disclosed a disability or 
specific learning difference.
• Guaranteed interview and applicant mentoring schemes for applicants, with UK home fees status, from eligible
under-represented ethnic groups. 

These are opt-in processes. 

Our studentships are offered on a part time basis in addition to full time registration. The minimum registration is 50% FT 
and the studentship end date will be extended to reflect the part-time registration.

For up to date information on funding eligibility, studentship rates and part time registration, please visit the 
FoodBioSystems website.

Applications for this opportunity are by online application form, and full details can be found on the FoodBioSystems website.

Studentship Two

ValueWaste: Revealing the Potential of Organo-Mineral Fertilisers to Enhance Crop Productivity, as Well as Improve Soil Health and Sustainability

Supervisory Team: Dr Leonidas Rempelos, University of Lincoln; Professor Ruben Sakrabani, Cranfield University; Dr Iain Gould, University of Lincoln

The UK imports a significant amount of unsustainably-mined phosphorus, with low deployment efficiency leading to environmental issues like eutrophication. Organic waste streams (e.g., manure, sewage sludge) offer potential for sustainable phosphorus use but are challenging to transport and apply. In addition, issues such as variability  in recovered phosphorus fertiliser nutrient content and stability, low micronutrient absorption in plants, and insufficient assessment of environmental impacts have led to low end-user uptake.

This exciting PhD project aims to develop a groundbreaking solution by using blends of organic waste residues as carriers for the creation of pelleted Organo-Mineral Fertilizers (OMFs) to enhance crop growth, yield, and quality, as well as improve soil health and sustainability, reducing the carbon footprint of crop production. The project will involve the development of a range of pelleted OMFs by blending different combinations/ proportions of organic waste, with varying  levels of mineral macro-micronutrient supplementation and the use of state-of-the-art sensor technologies to compare OMFs nutrient release/availability patterns and assess the potential of multiple wheat genotypes to grow with OMFs. Outputs will be scaled/validated on field trials, where the influence of OMFs accompanied by microbial biostimulants and nutrient-efficient wheat genotypes on enhancing soil health/nutrient dynamics will also be evaluated.

Training Opportunities

The project offers training covering cross-disciplinary technical and transferable skills. Training would be provided via both partners for the use of (1) various multispectral 3D scanners for canopy/root phenotyping, and image analysis to visualize plant growth and calculate a wide variety of morphological/physiological parameters, and (2) AAS, ICP-MS for heavy metal analysis, Elementar analysers for carbon, segmental flow analyser for nitrate, and spectrophotometer for phosphorus analysis. Other training opportunities include the attendance on MSc modules in areas such as soil science, plant genetics, and food quality or image/data processing, data mining, data programming in R/Python. The student will also benefit from the University of Lincoln’s Graduate School training on research skills, scientific writing, and personal development.

Project Supervision

The student will be supported by a lead supervisor and two co-supervisors representing different disciplines. The lead supervisor will be providing overall guidance and feedback, while the other members of the team will be offering specialised support/ additional feedback. In weekly one-to-one supervision and monthly full supervision team meetings progress, challenges, review of experimental results, and plan next steps will be discussed. Written feedback will be provided within two weeks of submission while oral feedback will be given during meetings. To effectively student track progress, clear action items/deadlines will be assigned, ensuring accountability and timely completion of tasks. Decisions made, actions, and follow-up points will be minuted and shared with all participants for reference. The student will also be providing regular progress reports summarizing completed tasks, ongoing work, and challenges faced.

Student Profile

This project is ideal for candidates with at least BSc (2:1) honours degree in Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Agronomy, Plant Science, Soil Science, Environmental and Biological Science, Geography, or Chemistry. Candidates from disciplines which are not directly related to the project research area should demonstrate their ability to learn and apply new concepts and skills. 

Stipend (Salary)

FoodBioSystems DTP students receive an annual tax free stipend (salary) that is paid in instalments throughout the year. For 2024/25 this is £19,237 and it will increase slightly each year at rate set by UKRI.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The FoodBioSystems DTP is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), to building a doctoral researcher (DR) and staff body that reflects the diversity of society, and to encourage applications from under-represented and disadvantaged groups. Our actions to promote diversity and inclusion are detailed on the FoodBioSystems DTP website and include:

• Offering reasonable adjustments at interview for shortlisted candidates who have disclosed a disability or 
specific learning difference.
• Guaranteed interview and applicant mentoring schemes for applicants, with UK home fees status, from eligible
under-represented ethnic groups. 

These are opt-in processes. 

Our studentships are offered on a part time basis in addition to full time registration. The minimum registration is 50% FT 
and the studentship end date will be extended to reflect the part-time registration.

For up to date information on funding eligibility, studentship rates and part time registration, please visit the 
FoodBioSystems website.

Applications for this opportunity are by online application form, and full details can be found on the FoodBioSystems website.

Why Lincoln?

Choosing Lincoln means joining a welcoming, student-focused university in one of the UK’s most historic and beautiful cities. With its stunning cathedral, medieval castle, and vibrant cultural life, the city offers a unique setting that combines heritage with a modern university experience.

Our city is known for its friendly atmosphere, compact and walkable centre, and affordable cost of living — ideal for focused academic work and a rich personal experience. You’ll also find good transport links to London and other major cities.

About the School

The School of Social and Political Sciences is home to a dynamic community of researchers and academics. Our areas of expertise include:

• Political science and political theory
• International relations and security studies
• Populism, nationalism, and authoritarianism
• Strategic communications (propaganda, public diplomacy, and soft power)
• Counterterrorism
• Sociology and social policy
• Criminology and criminal justice
• Gender studies, race and ethnicity
• Public policy and governance
• Welfare and inequality
• Environmental politics and sustainability
• Father and family support

We are committed to critical inquiry, interdisciplinary collaboration, and making an impact through research, teaching, and public engagement. Visiting Fellows are warmly welcomed into this environment.

For more information about the academics and their research, please look through our staff list.

Eligibility

The Visiting Fellowship is open to those currently undertaking a PhD in the social sciences (or related subjects). Applicants should have a clear research plan and an interest in participating in the School’s academic life.

What the Fellowship Includes

PhD Visiting Fellows will receive:

• A desk or workspace in the School
• A University of Lincoln email account
• Full access to the university library and online resources
• Opportunities to network with staff and research students

Fellows are also invited to deliver a guest lecture to staff and students within our school.

Duration, Fees, and Support

Fellowships are available for up to 12 months, with a monthly fee of £200. The start date and duration are flexible and can be agreed based on your needs and the school's capacity.

For international applicants, the school will issue a letter of sponsorship to support visa applications. We advise applying well in advance to allow time for travel and visa arrangements.

How to Apply

To apply, please complete our short online form. We strongly recommend that you contact relevant staff prior to submitting your application.