Ulrich Schmutz

This PhD studentship at Coventry University, supervised by Dr Adrian Evans and Prof Ulrich Schmutz, offers a unique opportunity for candidates with a social science background—especially in Geography, Sociology, or Science and Technology Studies—to contribute to the improvement of organic agriculture. The research focuses on understanding public views, concerns, and priorities regarding contentious inputs in organic agriculture, such as copper, peat, and other critical plant protection products. The project is closely linked to the EU-funded Scale-it project, which aims to scale up alternatives to contentious inputs and reduce dependency on conventional farming practices. The successful candidate will employ a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative focus groups, workshops, and survey analysis, to explore citizen priorities and facilitate science-society dialogues. The research will involve literature reviews, interviews, and hybrid citizen-scientist fora, with results disseminated to key stakeholders and policy-makers in organic agriculture. The project is ideally suited for those interested in the interface between science, society, and policy, and in advancing agroecology and organic food standards. Applicants should have a relevant social science degree, prior experience with qualitative research techniques (focus groups, interviews), and experience or willingness to learn survey data collection and analysis. A minimum 2:1 first degree with at least 60% in the project element and overall module average is required. English language proficiency must be demonstrated with an IELTS academic overall minimum score of 7.0 and at least 6.5 in each component. Funding includes tuition fees and a stipend. The PhD is expected to be completed within 3.5 years. The Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience at Coventry University provides a supportive research environment, and the project connects to a multi-national, interdisciplinary network through Scale-it. The application deadline is March 27, 2026. To apply, submit full supporting documentation, a covering letter, and a 2000-word supporting statement outlining your expertise and interests relevant to the project. For enquiries, contact Dr Adrian Evans. Apply via the FindAPhD link provided.