Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water

PhD scholarship opportunity in Environmental Science, Agriculture, and Economics focused on Assessing Environmental, Economic, and Resilience Trade-offs in Beef Production Systems.

This project is part of the Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water, a cross-border research programme involving researchers across Ireland and Great Britain. The research addresses sustainability challenges in agri-food systems, with emphasis on climate change, biodiversity loss, water degradation, and farm-level resilience.

The successful PhD candidate will develop an integrated framework combining Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and farm systems modelling to evaluate mitigation and adaptation strategies in beef production. The work will quantify environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and biodiversity-related indicators, while also assessing economic implications and resilience measures such as production variability, income stability, and adaptive capacity.

Supervision is by Prof Michael Wallace at University College Dublin and Dr Austen Ashfield at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute. The student will be registered at UCD and work closely with AFBI in Belfast, with residence periods at both institutions as agreed.

Funding includes a €25,000 annual stipend plus university fees for 3 years. The closing date is 14 May 2026, and the expected commencement date is September 2026.

Eligibility highlights include a 2:1 Honours degree or Master’s in Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Science, Agricultural Economics, Animal Science, Biosystems Engineering, or a related field; strong analytical and data-handling skills; understanding of pasture-based beef systems; knowledge of environmental impact assessment; strong IT and communication skills; and excellent English. TOEFL/IELTS may be required where applicable.

To apply, submit the online application form with a CV and a 1–2 page motivation statement before the deadline.