Joan Condell

Ulster University Business School is offering a funded PhD studentship titled “From Policy to Practice: Exploring the Adoption of Digital Traceability Tools in Agri-Food SMEs.” This research will investigate how small and medium-sized enterprises in the agri-food sector adopt digital traceability tools such as blockchain, IoT sensors, and QR-based tracking, with a focus on identifying real-world drivers, enablers, and barriers. The project is funded by TRACE, a cross-border initiative supported by PEACEPLUS and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary supervisory team (Dr Emer Gallagher, Prof Joan Condell, Dr Sinéad Furey) and become part of the larger TRACE team, benefiting from collaboration with multiple partner institutions. The studentship includes full tuition coverage, a stipend of £20,669 per year for three years (subject to performance), and a Research Training Support Grant. Applicants must be UK or Irish nationals or have the listed UK statuses and meet residency criteria. The application deadline is 10 November 2025, with interviews scheduled for 8–9 December 2025 and a start date of 12 January 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the provided link and quote reference #1774999.