BARIToNE: Data-Driven Crop Breeding for Climate-Resilient Barley (PhD Project) University of Dundee in United Kingdom

The BARIToNE PhD project, titled 'Data-Driven Crop Breeding for Climate-Resilient Barley', is a unique opportunity for students interested in agricultural science, genetics, and computational approaches to crop improvement. Based at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee, with registration at the University of Dundee, this project addresses the urgent challenge of developing resilient, high-yielding barley varieties to keep pace with climate change.

Supervised by Dr Paul Shaw (James Hutton Institute), Sebastian Raubach (James Hutton Institute), Dr Hajk Drost (University of Dundee), Dr Miguel Sanchez Garcia (ICARDA, Morocco), and Dr Benjamin Kilian (Crop Trust), the project offers a collaborative and supportive environment. Students will work with real barley breeding data to explore genetic relationships, historical selection, and environmental context, aiming to inform practical breeding decisions for local adaptation.

The research combines crop genetics with data-driven decision making, emphasizing biologically meaningful questions and practical relevance. Students will use R and related data science tools to analyze inheritance patterns, population structure, and trait prediction, gradually learning advanced statistical and computational modelling methods, including machine learning. The project is structured to build confidence and expertise step-by-step, with no prior experience in machine learning required.

Training includes core supervision from experts in crop genetics, quantitative biology, data analysis, and AI, as well as opportunities to attend workshops, summer schools, and conferences. The supervisory team encourages questions and explicit expectations, fostering a collaborative learning environment. The project is designed for candidates with backgrounds in plant science, crop science, biology, environmental science, computational biology, bioinformatics, statistics, or related disciplines.

Funding is provided through a full UKRI stipend (£20,780), covering tuition fees, training, and travel budget. Enhanced support is available for individuals with primary care responsibilities or disabilities. This round of applications is open only to UK residents who meet the UKRI eligibility criteria.

Applications are submitted via the BARIToNE CTP programme website. The deadline for applications is May 28, 2026, but interviews may be arranged as soon as eligible and suitable candidates apply. For more information and to apply, visit the project website.