DAERA’s Postgraduate Research Programme open again for 2023

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is encouraging students to apply for its annual Postgraduate Studentships Competition.

First year PhD student Richard Hillis and Norman Fulton, Head of DAERA’s Food and Farming Group discuss Richard’s research funded under the DAERA research studentship programme.

The programme has reopened and is offering 12 new PhD Studentships, commencing in October 2023. The research programme currently enables PhD students to carry out specific research for the Department over a three-year period, while working towards a PhD qualification. Applications must be submitted before midnight on Tuesday 21 February 2023.

Norman Fulton, Head of Food and Farming Group, DAERA, met with first year PhD student Richard Hillis at the Winter Fair to discuss his research into the immune status in dairy cattle. He said: “Richard’s research has the potential to provide economic benefits to dairy producers through improving health and immunity in dairy cattle.  DAERA is currently offering PhD projects across a range of topics in recognition of the vital role of science to inform policy development and stimulate innovation. The Postgraduate Studentship Programme is an important component of DAERA’s total investment in research.”

Richard, from Belfast, is carrying out his PhD at Queen’s University and the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough.

Richard said: “My research has the potential to help farmers to make good breeding decisions and breed dairy cattle with lower maintenance costs, better health conditions and welfare.”

Details of the 2023 Research Needs, Application Form and Terms and Conditions for the awards are available on the nidirect website. The research can be undertaken at a university in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland.

Notes to editors: 

1. Funding is provided in the form of a student maintenance grant, with fees and other costs paid directly to the student’s University or Research Centre. Applicants must meet eligibility criteria, including academic qualifications.
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