2027 SUSTAIN PhD: Fully Funded AI Research in Sustainable Agriculture and Carbon Farming Across UK Universities

Applications are open for the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training (SUSTAIN) PhD program, offering a fully funded four-year doctoral position focused on applying artificial intelligence to sustainable agriculture and food systems. The program spans multiple UK universities, including Lincoln, Aberdeen, Queen's Belfast, and Strathclyde, with research themes covering carbon farming, soil health, livestock sustainability, crop monitoring, and climate resilience. Successful applicants receive full tuition, a tax-free stipend, and a £3,000 annual research training grant. The program includes projects directly tied to carbon outcomes, such as AI-Enabled Carbon Farming, which uses remote sensing and field data to estimate carbon sequestration in smallholder systems. Other projects address supply chain emissions, antifungal resistance, and pest detection. The deadline is 12 noon UK time on 16 October 2026. Applicants with backgrounds in AI, data science, environmental science, or related STEM fields are encouraged to apply, and previous agricultural experience is not required.