Primary supervisor: Dr Ben Clunie

Co supervisors: Professor Tom Pope & Dr Joe Roberts

Expected Start date and location

October 2026 onwards, based at Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Shropshire, UK.

Funding

The studentship covers the current Home Student (UK, Isle of Man & Channel Isles) tuition fees plus a yearly stipend. For 2026/7 this equates to £21,805 per year, with potential increases each academic year.

International applicants would need to be able to fund the difference between home and overseas fees with a proportion being paid in full before Visa documentation can be issued.

Applicants

PhD applicants must hold a minimum of an upper second class (2:1) honours degree, or equivalent in a relevant discipline or a 2.2 alongside a relevant Master's degree with Merit, or potential for research based on alternative qualifications/experience judged acceptable by the university.

Required degree level: Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree or equivalent in entomology, zoology, ecology, biology, animal science, agricultural science, molecular biology, or a related discipline.

Additional skills required: Experience or interest in entomology, pollinator health, animal behaviour, ecology, pest management, molecular biology, or applied biological sciences. Prior experience, or willingness, to work with honeybee colonies in field and laboratory settings. Ability to collect and analyse quantitative data. Desirable skills include experience with insect handling, microbiology, RT-qPCR, chemical ecology, GC-MS, or statistical analysis

Alternate entry pathway explanation: Applicants with a relevant master’s degree and/or substantial research or industry experience in apiculture, entomology, ecology or pest management are also encouraged to apply.

Project 

Honeybees, Apis mellifera, are essential agricultural pollinators, but colony health remains under severe pressure from the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, a major driver of colony losses through direct parasitism and transmission of deformed wing virus (DWV). Existing control options rely heavily on a limited range of acaricides, and their long-term effectiveness is increasingly threatened by resistance. This PhD will develop integrated approaches to Varroa management by combining chemical ecology-led monitoring, biological control and established biotechnical methods to improve colony health and pollination-relevant outcomes.

The project will investigate whether hive volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles shift with Varroa infestation intensity and whether these changes can be used as a semi-automated early monitoring system. It will also test whether biotechnical interventions timed to colony phenology, combined with semiochemical-baited delivery of entomopathogenic fungi

(EPF), can improve control efficacy. A further objective is to determine how EPF infection affects DWV transmission dynamics and honeybee behavioural defences such as grooming and colony hygiene, and whether integrated approaches deliver measurable colony-level benefits beyond simple mite reduction.

Methodologically, the PhD will combine smart-hive monitoring, hive headspace VOC sampling, GC-MS analysis, laboratory bioassays, behavioural assays, molecular analysis of viral load, and replicated field trials. In Year 1, the student will establish standardised colony health monitoring across the Harper Adams apiary and profile VOCs from colonies spanning a range of Varroa infestation levels. Candidate chemical biomarkers and smart-hive indicators will be analysed using multivariate approaches to assess their diagnostic value.

In Years 1 and 2, laboratory studies will screen candidate EPF isolates for acaricidal activity, thermotolerance and honeybee safety. The student will examine whether fungal infection alters mite feeding and DWV vectoring capacity and whether direct EPF exposure triggers enhanced honeybee defensive behaviours. Semiochemical-baited delivery systems will also be developed to test whether Varroa-attractant compounds can improve mite contact with biological control agents under hive conditions.

In Years 2 and 3, replicated field trials will compare integrated interventions against conventional calendar-based acaricide treatment, evaluating mite dynamics, DWV prevalence, brood recovery, foraging activity, colony growth, honey yield and overwintering survival. The project is expected to generate publishable outputs in chemical ecology, invertebrate pathology and pest management, while also delivering practical and policy-relevant evidence for sustainable Varroa management and integrated pollinator management.

Closing Date: 12 May 2026

Department: Academic Staff & Research Degree Studentships

Primary supervisor: Dr Holly Vickery

Co supervisors: Dr Nicky van Veggel & Dr Ellen Williams

Expected Start date and location

October 2026 onwards, based at Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Shropshire, UK.

Funding

The studentship covers the current Home Student (UK, Isle of Man & Channel Isles) tuition fees plus a yearly stipend. For 2026/7 this equates to £21,805 per year, with potential increases each academic year.

International applicants would need to be able to fund the difference between home and overseas fees with a proportion being paid in full before Visa documentation can be issued.

Applicants

PhD applicants must hold a minimum of an upper second class (2:1) honours degree, or equivalent in a relevant discipline or a 2.2 alongside a relevant Master's degree with Merit, or potential for research based on alternative qualifications/experience judged acceptable by the university.

Project 

Farm animals are widely used in agricultural and veterinary education to develop students’ practical skills, confidence and professional competence. However, despite the prevalence of this practice across schools, colleges and universities, there is currently very limited empirical evidence on how educational use affects animal welfare.

Educational settings present a unique context for farm animals. Animals may be handled repeatedly by inexperienced or unfamiliar students, exposed to variable handling quality, and involved in frequent teaching activities. At the same time, educators and institutions face increasing expectations to demonstrate ethical, welfare-focused animal use, driven by professional standards and evolving regulatory frameworks, including requirements from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. There is a clear need for robust, evidence-based guidance to support high-quality education while safeguarding animal wellbeing.

This PhD will address this gap by combining animal welfare science with social science approaches to deliver practical, implementable solutions. The overarching aim is to quantify and characterise the welfare impacts of farm animal use in education, and to develop evidence-based guidelines that balance animal welfare with effective student learning.

The project has four key objectives:

1. Characterise how farm animals are currently used in UK educational settings, in order to identify perceived welfare impacts, constraints, and opportunities for refinement.

2. Quantify welfare impacts of educational activities on farm animals using behavioural, health, and production‑linked indicators, accounting for species‑specific responses and individual variability.

3. Develop, pilot, and evaluate practical refinements to educational practice that reduce negative welfare impacts while maintaining or enhancing educational value.

4. Produce evidence-based best practice training resources and guidelines for the monitoring and management of farm animal welfare in educational settings.

The successful candidate will receive interdisciplinary training in animal welfare assessment, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and stakeholder engagement. The project is based at Harper Adams University, within a supportive and collaborative research environment with strong links to educational institutions and sector stakeholders.

This PhD will produce high-quality publications and applied outputs with real-world impact, including guidance that can be adopted across educational establishments to improve the welfare of large numbers of animals. It offers an excellent opportunity for a motivated candidate interested in animal welfare, human–animal interactions and applied research with direct policy and practice relevance.

Closing Date: 12 May 2026

Department: Academic Staff & Research Degree Studentships

Primary supervisor: Dr Matthew Hill

Co supervisors: Dr Heather Campbell, Professor Carl Sayer (UCL), Dr Simon Segar

Expected Start date and location

October 2026 onwards, based at Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Shropshire, UK.

Funding

The studentship covers the current Home Student (UK, Isle of Man & Channel Isles) tuition fees plus a yearly stipend. For 2026/7 this equates to £21,805 per year, with potential increases each academic year.

International applicants would need to be able to fund the difference between home and overseas fees with a proportion being paid in full before Visa documentation can be issued.

Applicants

PhD applicants must hold a minimum of an upper second class (2:1) honours degree, or equivalent in a relevant discipline or a 2.2 alongside a relevant Master's degree with Merit, or potential for research based on alternative qualifications/experience judged acceptable by the university.

Project 

Pond ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots and have been widely demonstrated to support a greater aquatic biodiversity than rivers, streams and lakes at a landscape scale, driven by the wide environmental gradients recorded across a pond network. Their importance to biodiversity becomes particularly important in agricultural regions, where ponds provide important ‘habitat islands’ for an array of aquatic and terrestrial taxa. However, agricultural intensification has accelerated the loss of pond habitats, with those that remain in agricultural landscapes often becoming terrestrialised due to neglect. As a result, significant declines in pond biodiversity across UK agricultural landscapes have been reported.

In recent years there has been an increasing recognition of the importance of agricultural ponds for biodiversity, and a need to create new ponds or restore existing ponds to reverse decades of pond infilling and neglect. The UK has been at the forefront of research that has

driven a significant advancement of our understanding of best practice for pond creation and restoration, with recent studies demonstrating that both methods can be highly effective in supporting aquatic macroinvertebrates and plants. Despite increasing literature and interest in pond creation and restoration (hereby collectively referred to as pond management), there remains a lack of fundamental understanding of many aspects of pond management. For example, pond management typically focusses on creating or restoring individual ponds, with limited consideration for the wider pond network within agricultural landscapes. In particular, there is no clear understanding of the potential spillover effects from pond restoration and the importance of late succession, shaded ponds in the landscape.

This PhD project will address several critical knowledge gaps to increase the effectiveness and biodiversity benefit of pond management across agricultural landscapes.

The overarching aim of the PhD is to advance fundamental understanding of the effects of agricultural pond management (creation and restoration) on aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity at larger landscape scales, to inform future practice and policy. This will be achieved through the following objectives:

1. At a landscape scale, quantify the aquatic biodiversity spillover effects from pond management.

2. Quantify the aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity within heavily shaded unmanaged ponds.

3. Determine the impact of pond management on terrestrial invertebrate (e.g., ground beetle) diversity at local and landscape scales.

4. Establish comprehensive pond management guidance to maximise biodiversity at a landscape scale.

Methods

Secondary macrophyte and macroinvertebrate data of agricultural ponds where pond management has been undertaken across the UK will be collated to examine the wider landscape scale contribution of pond management. Alongside this, primary data from a UK agricultural (e.g., Shropshire/Norfolk) landscape will be collected to examine the relationship between local environmental factors, connectivity, pond management and biodiversity (macrophyte and macroinvertebrate) gains across the agricultural landscape. To quantify the contribution of late succession shaded ponds to biodiversity intensive surveying of shaded ponds will be undertaken to quantify the invertebrate communities present in these ponds. Significant scrub and tree removal in the riparian zone of ponds is undertaken during pond restoration, yet we do not know the effect of this on many terrestrial fauna. Ground beetle and spider diversity will be collected before and after pond management at 10 pond sites. It is anticipated that the results of this PhD project will facilitate the establishment of comprehensive pond management guidance at a local and landscape scale, that will help maximise aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity across agricultural landscapes.

Closing Date: 12 May 2026

Department: Academic Staff & Research Degree Studentships

Primary supervisor: Dr Nwabueze Emekwuru

Co supervisors: Professor Fernando Auat Chein, Dr Simon Woods

Expected Start date and location

October 2026 onwards, based at Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Shropshire, UK.

Funding

The studentship covers the current Home Student (UK, Isle of Man & Channel Isles) tuition fees plus a yearly stipend. For 2026/7 this equates to £21,805 per year, with potential increases each academic year.

International applicants would need to be able to fund the difference between home and overseas fees with a proportion being paid in full before Visa documentation can be issued.

Applicants

PhD applicants must hold a minimum of an upper second class (2:1) honours degree, or equivalent in a relevant discipline or a 2.2 alongside a relevant Master's degree with Merit, or potential for research based on alternative qualifications/experience judged acceptable by the university.

Project educational requirement: A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Agricultural Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline

Essential: 

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills. 

• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills. 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of fluid dynamics, especially experimental methods in atomisation and sprays. 

• Programming experience (e.g. Python, MATLAB or similar). 

• Experience with data analysis, machine learning or geospatial datasets. 

• Experience with UAVs, precision agriculture or remote sensing. 

• Experience with writing for publications.

Project 

Autonomous arable farming has advanced significantly through the Hands-Free Hectare and Hands-Free Farm initiatives, demonstrating that crops can be established, managed and harvested without in-field human operators. These systems integrate GNSS-guided machinery, remote sensing and data-driven decision-making to deliver commercially viable yields. However, crop protection remains largely

dependent on conventional ground-based spraying, limiting operational flexibility and environmental optimisation.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used globally for pesticide applications, enabling highly targeted interventions, reduced operator exposure, and significantly lower pesticide use. Despite this, there is limited understanding of UAV spray behaviour under temperate UK very-low volume and ultra-low volume formulations operating conditions and no fully integrated framework linking UAV-based sensing, decision-making and variable-rate aerial application within autonomous farming systems.

This research studentship will address the challenge of integrated UAV-based variable-rate spraying system for autonomous arable production. The project combines hyperspectral sensing, machine learning, and spray physics solutions to the emerging area of precise, data-driven crop protection.

The research will have access to in-house and external partner spray labs, the Hands-Free Farm, a soil hall and the UK government agency governing UAV sprays.

Closing Date: 12 May 2026

Department: Academic Staff & Research Degree Studentships

Primary supervisor: Dr Sven Peets

Co supervisors: Professor Fernando Auat Chein, Dr Simon Woods

Expected Start date and location

October 2026 onwards, based at Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Shropshire, UK.

Funding

The studentship covers the current Home Student (UK, Isle of Man & Channel Isles) tuition fees plus a yearly stipend. For 2026/7 this equates to £21,805 per year, with potential increases each academic year.

International applicants would need to be able to fund the difference between home and overseas fees with a proportion being paid in full before Visa documentation can be issued.

Applicants

PhD applicants must hold a minimum of an upper second class (2:1) honours degree, or equivalent in a relevant discipline or a 2.2 alongside a relevant Master's degree with Merit, or potential for research based on alternative qualifications/experience judged acceptable by the university.

Project educational requirement: A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Robotics; Mechatronics; Agricultural Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Electrical/Electronic Engineering; Computer Science; Control Engineering, or a related discipline

Desirable: 

• Programming in Python or C++ 

• Experience with robotic systems (ROS, sensors, manipulators, or mobile robots)

• Familiarity with computer vision or perception systems

• Interest in autonomous systems and agricultural technology

• Experience with experimental design and data analysis

Project 

UK horticulture is facing an unprecedented convergence of challenges: persistent labour shortages, rapidly rising production costs, and mounting environmental and regulatory pressures. High-value fruit crops remain especially vulnerable. Unlike arable systems, these crops rely on delicate, skilled manual handling within dense and variable canopies – tasks that current mechanised systems cannot reliably perform. As a result, the sector faces increasing risk within national food supply chains and limited capacity for sustainable growth.

At the same time, the UK has demonstrated global leadership in autonomous agriculture through initiatives such as the Hands Free Hectare and Hands Free Farm projects, which proved that fully autonomous field operations are achievable. However, translating this success into horticulture requires a new generation of robotic systems capable of interacting with crops in ways that respect biological fragility, uneven terrain, and human-centred crop architectures. A critical barrier remains: there is currently no validated scientific framework that defines safe, reliable and efficient robot-crop interaction in real horticultural environments.

This PhD project will address that fundamental gap. The researcher will develop a robust, evidence-based framework governing how robotic systems approach, assess and harvest horticultural crops. Working with advanced robotic platforms available at Harper Adams University, the project combines robotic engineering, biological crop analysis, and autonomous systems research to tackle one of the most significant technological challenges in modern agriculture.

The project has four major components:

1. Interaction Mapping

The student will decompose the fruit-harvesting task into measurable stages – from navigating within orchard rows, to fruit detection and ripeness assessment, to stable manipulation during reaching and detachment. Biological and mechanical indicators such as fruit damage, branch disturbance and stability margins will be quantified to understand how robotic systems interact with crop environments.

2. Digital Twin Development

A spatially accurate digital twin of orchard conditions will be created to simulate crop variability, predict interaction forces and evaluate system stability and safety under differing terrain and canopy scenarios. This will generate a replicable methodology for reducing real-world deployment risk and improving commercial and regulatory confidence in autonomous agricultural systems.

3. Field Validation

Through controlled orchard trials, the project will quantify harvesting success rates, crop damage, operational reliability, system efficiency and safe human-robot interaction margins. Statistical evaluation will characterise performance robustness under genuine environmental variability.

4. Deployment and Impact Pathway

Findings will be synthesised into a validated robot-crop interaction framework, including deployment guidelines for growers, technology developers and regulators. The resulting

evidence base will form a crucial step toward scalable, commercially viable autonomous horticulture.

Significance

This project offers an exceptional opportunity for a researcher interested in robotics, autonomous systems or precision agriculture to contribute to the next major breakthrough in agri-technology. Its outcomes will support the ongoing impact narrative of the Hands Free Farm initiative and contribute directly to national priorities surrounding food security, labour resilience and sustainable intensification.

The successful candidate will produce high-impact scientific outputs and help shape the UK’s pathway toward fully autonomous horticultural production systems.

Closing Date: 12 May 2026

Department: Academic Staff & Research Degree Studentships

The Digital Education and Innovation Administrator plays a key role in supporting the day-to-day digital operations of the Veterinary School. Acting as a first point of contact for staff, students and external partners, the post holder will provide first-line support for a range of digital systems, devices and services used across teaching, assessment and School activities.

Working closely with colleagues across both universities, the successful candidate will help ensure that digital teaching environments run smoothly. This will include assisting with the setup and support of digital platforms, preparing teaching spaces and equipment, coordinating digital support for teaching sessions and events, and producing guidance materials to support staff and students in the effective use of digital tools.

The role sits within the School’s Digital Education and Innovation Team and contributes to the delivery of a modern and innovative veterinary curriculum, supporting technologies such as virtual learning environments, mobile devices, and emerging digital teaching tools.

This role will be based at either Harper Adams University or Keele University depending on the successful candidate’s preferred home campus, but regular travel between the two campuses will be required to support teaching activities, meetings and School events.

We are looking for an organised and proactive individual who enjoys helping others, solving practical problems and supporting the use of technology in an educational environment. You will have experience of working with digital systems or IT tools, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage a varied workload in a collaborative team environment.

The Benefits

The School recognises that its success depends upon the contribution and dedication of its talented staff. In return, we have a competitive benefits package available, including:  

• Competitive rate of pay with annual increments within the grade (Keele Spine)
• Generous annual leave entitlement with opportunities to purchase additional leave  
• Excellent staff pension scheme   
• Access to continued personal, professional and career development   
• On site ‘outstanding’ nursery (Keele campus only)
• Health & fitness facilities on site 
• Cycle to work scheme (subject to eligibility) 

Please note that the starting salary will typically be at the bottom of the pay scale shown above

Both Harper Adams University and Keele University are committed to operating flexible working practices wherever possible.  

Agile working may be considered (blend of home and office based).

Harper & Keele Veterinary School launched in 2020 with our first cohort of students. Combining the extensive resources and excellence at Harper Adams and Keele universities has created a rich and authentic environment for veterinary education and research, with both institutions recognised for their excellent student experience, strong community spirit, and high-quality teaching. 

Combining a strong pedigree in animal sciences, veterinary nursing, veterinary physiotherapy, and agricultural sustainability at Harper Adams University with the established reputation that Keele University proudly boasts in life sciences and human medicine, the School's model of veterinary education has strategic partnership at its very core.   

Staff and students at the Vet School uniquely benefit from two highly successful institutions, drawing on the resources at each campus and a network of partner veterinary practices and industry partners. 

Further information can be found at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk.

Keele University is committed to the principles of the Athena Swan charter, and values equality and diversity across our workforce.  We strive to ensure that our workforce is representative of broader society, and therefore, we would actively welcome applications from all genders for this role.  

Both universities value equality and diversity across our workforce and to ensuring our staff community is reflective of the diversity of our student population. In support of these commitments the University welcomes applications from individuals of Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds for all roles. 

For full post details and to find out more about working at Keele please visit: www.keele.ac.uk/vacancies 

For informal enquiries may be addressed to Mark Henderson (m.henderson@hkvets.ac.uk).  Applications to this address will not be accepted. 

Closing Date: 17 May 2026

Post reference: KU00005015

Closing Date: 17 May 2026

Department: Support Staff

Salary: Grade 4 - £24,685 to £26,707 per annum (incremental progression)
Full Time - Indefinite

Working closely with a friendly and experienced team, you will act as the main point of contact for disability related enquiries, providing first-line support to students. This will include offering guidance on the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), arranging assessments for Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs), and coordinating 1:1 study skills sessions.

About you:

• Excellent communication and customer service skills 
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality, empathy, and professionalism 
• Strong organisational, administrative, and IT skills 
• Proven ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload 
• Experience in a customer-focused environment 
• An understanding of the challenges faced by disabled students (desirable) 

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about supporting students to succeed.

If you have any queries or questions or for an informal discussion, please contact Jane Hill on jhill@harper-adams.ac.uk                                                                                              

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK, please follow this link https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK and details about eligibility for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa.

Closing Date: 04 May 2026

Department: Support Staff

Salary: £26,093 to £28,031 per annum, pro rata
The point of entry will depend upon relevant qualifications and experience.

The KTP brings together the scientific expertise of HAU, one of the UK’s leading specialist agricultural and environmental universities, with RES’s long-established reputation and influence in the field of entomology. As the KTP Associate, you will be based at RES headquarters in London while receiving academic supervision and access to specialist expertise from HAU.

About the Role

You will take the lead in designing, testing and launching a commercially viable consultancy service that translates research driven entomological and environmental knowledge into practical, market ready solutions for sectors such as agriculture, conservation, ecological assessment and land management. This will involve shaping the consultancy from concept through to implementation exploring commercial opportunities, modelling service propositions, building internal capability and ensuring that all new deliverables are robust, credible and sustainable.

Your work will involve combining strategic insight with hands on delivery. You will work closely with RES leaders, engage with stakeholders across industry, NGOs and academia, and act as the bridge between scientific expertise and the practical needs of clients and partners. This is a role for someone who enjoys responsibility, embraces innovation and can confidently communicate across diverse professional settings.

Skills and Experience

A degree in business, environmental management, agricultural business or entomology is required together with strong analytical abilities, commercial awareness and the confidence to lead initiatives. Experience in consultancy, environmental or agricultural sectors, or in developing new services or business models, is advantageous but not essential. Most importantly, we are looking for a motivated self-starter who brings initiative, resilience and the ability to build constructive relationships across multiple organisations.

A major benefit of the KTP model is professional development. You will spend 10% of your time on your own training, supported by a £2,000 annual budget. You will also have access to national KTP training, leadership and innovation development opportunities, as well as industry mentoring.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible contribution to the future of a national organisation and to influence how insect science informs environmental and agricultural practice. 

If you require adjustments to complete your application, please email vacancies@harper-adams.ac.uk

Closing Date: 27 Apr 2026

Department: Support Staff

Salary: Salary up to £45,700 (dependent upon qualifications and experience)

Precision livestock farming is transforming how animal health and welfare are monitored on farms. However, many current monitoring systems rely primarily on visual or activity-based sensors, meaning important behavioural and physiological signals may be missed. Sound within livestock environments contains a wealth of information about animal behaviour, health and emotional state, yet it remains relatively under-utilised in commercial dairy systems.

This PhD will investigate how bioacoustics and artificial intelligence can be combined to develop automated, non-invasive approaches for assessing dairy cattle welfare. The project will explore how acoustic information generated by cattle and their surrounding environment can be analysed to identify patterns associated with behaviour, health status and welfare.

The research will involve collecting and analysing sound data from dairy housing environments, linking acoustic patterns to behavioural and health indicators, and developing computational models capable of detecting meaningful welfare-related signals. The project will also explore how acoustic information may be integrated with other forms of farm data to improve the reliability of automated welfare assessment.

The successful candidate will undertake a structured training programme at the start of the PhD to develop skills in areas such as programming, data analysis, machine learning and signal processing. This will provide the technical foundation required to work with large acoustic datasets and develop analytical approaches relevant to livestock systems.

In addition to technical training, the student will gain experience in animal behaviour and welfare research, precision livestock technologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration between animal science and data science.

The PhD will be based at Harper Adams University and co-supervised with Nottingham Trent University.

Applicants must hold, or expect to hold, a Master’s degree (MSc) in a relevant discipline such as:

• Animal Sciences

• Veterinary Medicine

• Veterinary Sciences

• Animal Behaviour and Welfare

Strong quantitative skills are desirable. Prior experience in one or more of the following would be advantageous:

• Behavioural observation and welfare assessment

• Dairy cattle management

• Bioacoustics or signal analysis

• Programming in Python or R

• Statistical modelling

Applicants without prior AI experience are encouraged to apply, as structured AI/ML training will be provided.

Dairy Cattle Welfare | Bioacoustics | Precision Livestock Farming | Artificial Intelligence | Machine Learning | Deep Learning | Animal Behaviour | Acoustic Biomarkers | Sustainable Agriculture | Digital Farming

Closing Date: 30 Jun 2026

Department: Self-Funded Research Degrees

A key part of the dairy team, the Dairy Technical Science Officer focus on the care of the farm’s 300 Holstiens which are milked through a 40-point GEA internal rotary in accordance with best principles of milk and dairy hygiene. We are looking for motivated team members, with a willingness to develop new skills.

 Some of the benefits of the role include: 

• 45 hour working week 
• 10 days on and 4 days off continuous rota
• Shared accommodation (if required) with other farm staff in a modern 4 bedrooms house, 
• (6-minute walk / 2-minute drive from the farm)
• 22 days annual leave plus bank holidays and closure days, excellent pension scheme, sick pay and Employee Assistance Programme 

Duties to include:

• Milking on two shifts per day
• Pressure washing 
• Keeping the parlour clean and maintained to a high standard.  

Previous experience of milking and working with livestock is a requirement for the role, though additional training and ongoing support will be provided.  

Should you require any assistance completing your application, please contact vacancies@harper-adams.ac.uk 

Please apply online  submitting your CV and a personal statement outlining your suitability for the role. Your personal statement should clearly demonstrate how your skills, experience, and achievements meet the requirements outlined in the person specification. Applications without a personal statement may not be considered.  

Closing Date for applications is midnight on 11 May 2026

Please note that we are currently only accepting applications from candidates who are eligible to work within the UK.  Therefore unfortunately, we are unable to consider overseas applications which require sponsorship at this time.

Closing Date: 11 May 2026

Department: Support Staff

Salary: £35,000 to £37,990 per annum
The point of entry will be dependent upon relevant qualifications and experience

Primary supervisor: Prof. Fernando Auat Cheein

Co supervisors: TBC

Expected Start date and location

October 2026 onwards, based at Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Shropshire, UK.

Funding

The studentship covers the current Home Student (UK, Isle of Man & Channel Isles) tuition fees plus a yearly stipend. For 2025/6 this equates to £20, 780 per year, with potential increases each academic year in line with UKRI. 

International applicants would need to be able to fund the difference between home and overseas fees (£11, 382 for the 2025/6 academic year) with a proportion being paid in full before Visa documentation can be issued. Please note that due to time frame for Visa applications the start date may have to be amended to January 2026.

Applicants

Applicants must hold a minimum of an upper second class (2:1) honours degree, or equivalent in a relevant discipline or a 2.2 alongside a relevant Master's degree with Merit, or potential for research based on alternative qualifications/experience judged acceptable by the university.

Project 

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our research team working at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and agriculture. The project will focus on the development and application of robotic systems with articulated arms for fruit handling, harvesting, and other farming operations. 

The successful candidate will investigate the integration of vision systems and AI techniques for perception, decision-making, and control, enabling robots to operate reliably in complex agricultural environments. The research will involve design, experimentation, and validation of robotic approaches tailored to real-world farming needs. 

Closing Date: 03 Jun 2026

Department: Academic Staff & Research Degree Studentships

Applicants must have their own, their employer's or their Government's funding. A letter of "Confirmation of funding" must be attached/uploaded during the application process.

Candidates should supply a brief research proposal of 2-4 pages.  This should include a brief literature review to the research question including identification of the knowledge gaps, clearly identify the aims of the research and briefly detail the methodology and resources required. 

If candidates do not have a specific research proposal prepared, then they should write two or three sentences on an academic area of interest in which they wish to study for a PhD.

If a more detailed proposal is required for an external funding body, then candidates should discuss this with potential supervisors before they write the proposal.

Please state on your application if you are applying for a MPhil or PhD.

Where you are required to upload a document that is not appropriate, please upload a word document stating "Not Applicable".

Please note that due to the time required to conduct the recruitment process, a minimum time to be able to provide an offer letter is typically two weeks.

For international students (non UK/EU), the closing date for applications for a October 2024 start is 31 May 2024.  

For UK/EU students, the closing date for applications for a October 2024 start is 31 August 2024.   

If you have not received contact within 4 weeks of submission please assume we have been unable to support your application at this stage.

Closing Date: 04 Nov 2025

Department: Self-Funded Research Degrees

This form is only to be used by those self-funded applicants seeking a place on a research degree programme at Harper Adams University (MPhil or PhD). Please see other listings for funded opportunities that may be available.

Applicants must have their own, their employer's or their Government's funding. A letter of "Confirmation of funding" must be attached/uploaded during the application process.

Candidates should supply a brief research proposal of 2-4 pages.  This should include a brief literature review to the research question including identification of the knowledge gaps, clearly identify the aims of the research and briefly detail the methodology and resources required. 

If candidates do not have a specific research proposal prepared, then they should write two or three sentences on an academic area of interest in which they wish to study for a PhD.

If a more detailed proposal is required for an external funding body, then candidates should discuss this with potential supervisors before they write the proposal.

Please state on your application if you are applying for a MPhil or PhD.

Where you are required to upload a document that is not appropriate, please upload a word document stating "Not Applicable".

Please note that due to the time required to conduct the recruitment process, a minimum time to be able to provide an offer letter following successful interview is typically two weeks.

The closing date for applications for an October 2026 start is Sunday 19th July 2026.  

If you have not received contact form the PGR Office within 4 weeks of submission please assume we have been unable to support your application at this stage.

Closing Date: 19 Jul 2026

Department: Self-Funded Research Degrees

HAU Staff Part-Time PhD 

If a member of staff would like to carry out a part-time (PT) PhD at HAU the following conditions apply.

• PT PhDs would run for 6 years.
• The proposed research project must align with the university’s research strategy and areas of research activity. 
• In an academic year only 1 member of staff per department/facility can start a PT PhD.
• Fees will be waivered against the continual professional development fund.
• Supervisors can apply for up to £10k from QR for project costs over the 6 years of the PhD.
• Half a day a week will be given for the PhD time under the work load model.
• If a member of staff leaves the employment of HAU within 2 years of completing their PhD they will be responsible for reimbursing the fees in line with HR policy.

Staff wishing to carry out a PT PhD at HAU should follow the following procedure.

Academic staff

• Staff to discuss their interest in carrying out a PT PhD with their PDR reviewer. If the PDR reviewer is not the applicant’s HoD the reviewer may also need to discuss this with the HoD. 
• By 31^stOctober – staff submit a PhD application through Stonefish. The application needs to include;
  • PhD proposal including identified supervisors and indicative project costs.
  • A letter explaining why they wish to carry out a PT PhD while employed by HAU.
  • A letter of support from their HoD which confirms that the time allocation of half a day a week has been agreed under the WL plan and this resource can be covered within the department. 
• November – all applications will be assessed with respect to the university’s standard PhD entry requirements and applicants will be informed about interviews as soon as is reasonably practical. Applications will be assessed by Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) (ARVCR) and Director of Postgraduate Research (DoPGR).
• December/January – applicants will be interviewed by the APVCR, DoPGR, proposed DoS and a research active colleague with subject expertise. If successful the workload allocation will be made for the next academic year.
• Applicants will attend the PGR student induction and start their PhD end September/early October.

Professional Services and Technical staff follow the above procedure with sign off from their line manager and Head of Department. They can submit their application at any time and if successful they will be able to start their PhD on the next appropriate PhD start date (e.g. September/October, April) as agreed with their line manager and the PGR Office.

Closing Date: 25 Jun 2024

Department: Self-Funded Research Degrees