We are seeking a proactive Research Assistant to join the newly established Centre for Crop and Environmental Sciences (CCES). The Centre brings together expertise in crop science, soil and water management, pathology, entomology and nematology to address challenges including climate change, sustainable food production, crop health and environmental resilience.

This primarily field-based role will support undergraduate and postgraduate teaching alongside a variety of research projects. Working with academic staff, researchers and students, you will help manage the University’s field research facilities and contribute to high-quality scientific research and practical teaching.

Responsibilities include supporting field and glasshouse trials, assisting with experiments, data collection and analysis, maintaining machinery and equipment stores, preparing chemicals and reagents, and ensuring facilities operate safely and effectively. You will also contribute to health and safety management by preparing and reviewing risk and COSHH assessments and delivering inductions for facility users.

Applicants should hold a degree in biology, agricultural science or a related discipline, or possess equivalent professional experience. Experience with plants or field-based research is desirable, along with strong organisational and communication skills. Experience of supervising students or casual staff and knowledge of UK health and safety procedures would be advantageous, although training will be provided. A full UK driving licence is essential.

Harper Adams offers modern research facilities, staff development opportunities and a supportive community, making it an excellent place to develop a career in agricultural and environmental research.

For informal discussion relating to the post, please contact Matt Rodenhurst (mrodenhurst@harper-adams.ac.uk) or Jim Monaghan (jmonaghan@harperadams.ac.uk). 

Application Procedure: 

Please apply online via the Harper Adams e-Recruitment programme at http://jobs.harper-adams.ac.uk  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 Completed applications should be received no later than 11.59 PM, Sunday 31st May 2026.

Should you require any adjustments to complete your application for this role then please contact vacancies@harper-adams.ac.uk

This position is not expected to meet the criteria required for the University to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship. Applications from candidates who need sponsorship to work in the UK will be assessed in line with the requirements outlined in the recruitment documentation. All hiring decisions will follow the guidance set by UK Visas and Immigration

Closing Date: 31 May 2026

Department: Support Staff

Salary: £31,236 per annum

Experience/Qualification required  

A good range of experience in land and property management and real estate, with particular expertise in rural property, real estate valuation, development and investment appraisal.

It is essential that you have a good undergraduate degree in a relevant topic and whilst academic experience would be desirable it is not essential and if you are not currently an academic, relevant professional experience is what will enable you to bring real world examples into the class room and there would be an opportunity to obtain an appropriate teaching qualification once in post. 

The role is student facing and requires significant time to be spent at the university but there are times when remote working may be possible

If you have any queries or questions or for an informal discussion, please contact Mark Simcock (LPM Course Manager)  msimcock@harper-adams.ac.uk or Emma Pierce-Jenkins (Interim Head of Harper Adams Business School) epierce-jenkins@harper-adams.ac.uk 

Should you require any adjustments to complete your application for this role then please contact vacancies@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: 26 May 2026

Department: Academic Staff & Research Degree Studentships

Salary: £39,906 to £58,225 per annum
The point of entry will be dependent upon relevant qualifications and experience

The post holder will be a key part of the programme team focussing on the delivery of small group tutorial teaching and case-based learning which is integrated throughout the foundation phase of the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) programme. The successful candidate must be a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS) (or be eligible for RCVS registration without the requirement to sit the statutory membership examination).

The CTF team contribute to the educational design and development of teaching materials and facilitate tutorials to provide clinical and professional contextualisation of the foundation sciences, including anatomy, physiology, animal management, behaviour and welfare and animal health sciences, and supporting student professional and personal development by providing tutoring in academic skills, professional behaviours, communication skills and reflective practice.   

Opportunity to facilitate and deliver case-based learning in the 3^rd year of the programme, focusing on veterinary pathology and preparation for clinical practice will be available.  The CTF team also support student wellbeing and pastoral care in conjunction with student academic mentors and central student support services.

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 
• 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 and fitness facilities on site 
• Cycle to work scheme (subject to eligibility) 

The Harper & Keele Veterinary School is committed to operating flexible working practices wherever possible. The Harper & Keele Veterinary School values equality and diversity across the workforce and ensuring our staff community is reflective of the diversity of our student population. In support of these commitments, we welcome applications from individuals of Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds. 

Please note this appointment is subject to medical clearance by the University’s Occupational Health provider.

The starting salary will be at the beginning of the pay scale for the grade.

Please contact vacancies@keele.ac.uk if clarification is required. 

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

For informal enquiries: Contact Ruth Corbett, Harper Adams CTF Team Co-Lead, r.a.corbett@hkvets.ac.uk or Justin Shere, Harper CTF Team Co-Lead, j.shere@hkvets.ac.uk.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 17^th May 2026

Interview date: Thursday 4^th June 2026

Post reference:  KU00005081, KU00005083, KU00005119

Closing Date: 17 May 2026

Department: Support Staff

Salary: Starting Range: Grade 7: £38,784 - £47,389 per annum (pro rata according to FTE)

The Student Records Enhancement Manager has overall responsibility for leading the work of the Student Records Office, including managing the work and priorities of all members of the Student Records Team. The postholder will be responsible for data quality and enhancement for student records for which the team is responsible as well as identifying and implementing process, automation and enquiry enhancement, activity acting in an advising capacity, and supporting other teams managing students records to undertake the work required. The postholder will also be primarily responsible for all work undertaken by the team, relating to the Student Loans Company.  

We are looking for an individual who understands how to build an exceptional student records function, can embrace change and drive forwards system improvements and enhancements primarily for the benefit of the Student Records Team and their staff and student stakeholders, by moving to a more systematised and automated working schedule, rather than manual approach, also supporting the work of the wider Registry Services Team. 

The successful candidate will have proven experience of managing a team, within a high pressure environment and who has a proven track record of delivery of process enhancements and the implementation of automations. Ideally from a Higher Education background, educated to at least degree level, or with significant equivalent professional experience, the individual will have demonstrable experience of collaborative working and achieving improvement targets. They will be highly motivated, with high levels of enthusiasm and a real drive to achieve change for the benefit of the team, the students and the wider University community. 

If you have any queries or questions or for an informal discussion, please contact Laura Harper via e-mail lharper@harper-adams.ac.uk 

Application Procedure: 

Please apply online via the Harper Adams e-Recruitment programme at http://jobs.harper-adams.ac.uk  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 midnight on Sunday 10 May 2026

Should you require any adjustments to complete your application for this role then please contact vacancies@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: 19 May 2026

Department: Support Staff

Salary: £39,906 to £44,746 per annum
The point of entry will be dependent upon relevant qualifications and experience

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

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

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