PhD Studentship - Insect frass in sustainable horticulture and agriculture – the way forward

Award Summary

100% fees covered and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £18,622 (2023-24 UKRI rates)

Overview

Are you interested in supporting sustainable solutions to some of the key challenges for the horticulture and agriculture industries? Frass is a product from insect bioconversion, a technology that uses organic waste streams to produce insects for high value products. Frass is an organic fertiliser that has also recently been shown to have potential biostimulant and biopesticide properties. This PhD project will build on previous research to explore applications for insect frass, the contribution to soil health and sustainable agricultural and horticultural systems, whilst ensuring that potential risks are understood.

It is known that the properties of frass from insect bioconversion will differ depending on the material used to rear the insects. The project will assess the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of black soldier fly frass produced from different waste streams, evaluate the medium-term effect on soil health, assess post-production processing and formulation methods and the impact on microbiota. Throughout the project there will be a focus on ensuring that the research undertaken is relevant to the industry, policymakers and regulators. The project will involve both laboratory and glasshouse studies with fieldwork also a requirement.

The project will be based at Fera Science Ltd in York with training and placements at Newcastle University. Training will be provided in plant growth trials and bioassays, molecular methods, bioinformatics, fieldwork and data analysis.

Number Of Awards

1

Start Date

16 September 2024

Award Duration

3 Years

Application Closing Date

7 February 2024

Sponsor

Institute for Agrifood Research and Innovation (IAFRI)

Supervisors

Dr Maureen Wakefield (Fera), Charles Brakspear (Fera), Dr Elisa Lopez-Capel  (Newcastle University)

Eligibility Criteria

You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in biology, agriculture or a related discipline.

Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.

The studentship covers fees at the Home rate (UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status and meet the residency criteria). International applicants are welcome to apply but will be required to cover the difference between Home and International fees.

How To Apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal  

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.  

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:  

• Search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8020F
• Research Area: Biological Sciences
• Select ‘PhD Biology as the programme of study

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:  

• A ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) - upload a document or write a statement directly in to the application form  
• The studentship code SNES281 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field  
• When prompted regarding your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal. 

In the ‘Supporting Documentation’ section please upload:

Contact Details

For further information contact: Dr Maureen Wakefield ([email protected])