We invite applications from ambitious life-science graduates for a fully funded PhD at Cranfield University, supported by the EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award. The award covers Home fees (£5,238 p.a.) and provides a £24,500 annual tax-free stipend for three years. Based in the Cranfield Environment Centre, the student will investigate how legumes shape nitrogen cycling, crop performance and greenhouse-gas emissions in regenerative arable rotations, developing science to support sustainable, lower-input farming and UK Net Zero goals.
UK agriculture produces around 70% of national nitrous oxide emissions, a greenhouse gas with 273 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide over 100 years. Much arises from inefficient nitrogen fertiliser use. Legumes can reduce this reliance by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, removing synthetic nitrogen fertiliser requirements for themselves and potentially reducing requirements for following crops. Yet we cannot reliably predict when, where or how much legume-derived nitrogen becomes available. This limits farmers’ ability to adjust subsequent fertiliser applications and realise the full economic and environmental value of legumes.
This PhD will uncover how legumes regulate soil nitrogen cycling across arable rotations. The student will quantify effects on subsequent cereal yield, nitrogen-use efficiency, greenhouse-gas emissions and fertiliser-replacement potential under contrasting arable management systems. Field, laboratory and controlled-environment experiments will determine when and where legume-derived nitrogen becomes available within bulk soil and the rhizosphere. Conventional soil mineral nitrogen testing will be compared with detailed measurements of mineralisation, biological nitrogen fixation, crop nitrogen uptake and microbial processes. The research will test whether this deeper nitrogen accounting can deliver worthwhile financial and environmental gains over current practice.
This EPSRC-funded studentship will be based in the Cranfield Environment Centre, whose research spans soil and air quality, climate change, crop monitoring, resilience and ecosystem services. The project also offers close collaboration with the James Hutton Institute, an internationally recognised centre for sustainable-cropping research. Hutton scientists will provide co-supervision, expertise in legume agronomy and biological nitrogen fixation, and specialist training during a placement in Dundee, linking mechanistic science with field evidence and practical nitrogen management recommendations.
This research will strengthen nitrogen fertiliser recommendations after legumes, helping farmers and agronomists reduce unnecessary inputs, costs and emissions without compromising crop performance. Findings will be incorporated into farm carbon accounting tools, translating new knowledge into practical whole-farm decisions. The work will advance lower-input, resource-efficient cropping systems and identify where legume-based rotations can deliver the greatest agronomic and environmental benefits while supporting UK Net Zero.
The student will work with established field trials and industry-relevant datasets from Nitrogen Climate Smart, LegumES and the James Hutton Institute’s Centre for Sustainable Cropping. A placement in Dundee will provide specialist experience of long-term cropping-system research. Opportunities will include UK fieldwork, engagement with farmers, agronomists and industry through project events, Groundswell and the Pulse Crop Genetic Improvement Network, and presentation of findings at national and international conferences, including the UK Legume Research Community and International Legume Society conferences.
The student will gain integrated training in field experimentation, laboratory and controlled-environment research, soil–plant–microbial science, greenhouse-gas assessment and quantitative analysis. They will also develop skills in project management, scientific writing, grant development, stakeholder engagement and communicating evidence to academic, farming, industry and policy audiences. Through Cranfield, the James Hutton Institute, Nitrogen Climate Smart and LegumES, the student will have the opportunity to build an exceptional professional network and interdisciplinary profile, providing an excellent foundation for a long-term life-science career in sustainable cropping systems and environmental research or the wider agri-food and -feed sectors.
At a glance
- Application deadline11 Nov 2026
- Award type(s)PhD
- Start date25 Jan 2027
- Duration of award3 year (full-time)
- EligibilityUK, Rest of world
- Reference numberCRAN-0108
Entry requirements
Applicants should have a first or second class UK honours degree or equivalent in a related discipline. This project would suit graduates from a wide range of backgrounds such as soil science, environmental science, agronomy, plant science, ecology or related disciplines.
Experience of, or a strong interest in, fieldwork, laboratory analysis and quantitative data analysis (e.g., R) would be beneficial, though full training will be provided. We warmly welcome applications from a diverse range of educational, cultural and socioeconomic groups, including those who are currently underrepresented in soil sciences or agriculture, or those returning to research with a new direction. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where we recognise different perspectives as strengths.
Funding
Sponsored by EPSRC and Cranfield University, this studentship will provide a bursary of up to £24,500 (tax free) plus fees* for three years.
This studentship is open to both Home and Overseas fee status students, however we are only permitted to offer a limited number of studentships to students with Overseas fee status. Eligibility for Home fee status is determined with reference to UK Department for Education rules. As a guiding principle UK or Irish nationals who are ordinarily resident in either the UK or Republic of Ireland pay Home tuition fees. All other students (including those from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) pay Overseas fees. Further advice can be found on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.
Sharing data
UKRI would like to have a better understanding of the students its training provision attracts and supports. Diversity information on all applicants/recruits applying for UKRI funded studentships will be shared with UKRI. The data will be aggregated and will not be shared as individual data or used to report on individuals or specific universities. The data will be used to analyse general trends in student populations across UKRI's portfolio.
Diversity and Inclusion at Cranfield
At Cranfield, we value our diverse staff and student community and maintain a culture where everyone can work and study together harmoniously with dignity and respect. This is reflected in our University values of ambition, impact, respect and community. We welcome students and staff from all backgrounds from over 100 countries and support our staff and students to realise their full potential, from academic achievement to mental and physical wellbeing.
We are committed to progressing the diversity and inclusion agenda, for example; gender diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through our Athena SWAN Bronze award and action plan, we are members of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) and Working Families, and sponsors of International Women in Engineering Day. We are also Disability Confident Level 1 Employers and members of the Business Disability Forum.
Our Student Wellbeing and Disability support team provide a range of support and coordinate reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, specific learning differences and mental and physical health conditions. Please contact studentsupport@cranfield.ac.uk for support queries, the information you provide will be confidential.
Cranfield Doctoral Network
Research students at Cranfield benefit from being part of a dynamic, focused and professional study environment and all become valued members of the Cranfield Doctoral Network. This Network brings together both research students and staff, providing a platform for our researchers to share ideas, identify opportunities for collaboration and create smaller communities of practice. It aims to encourage an effective and vibrant research culture, founded upon the diversity of activities and knowledge.
Doctoral Researchers’ Core Development (DRCD) Programme
An important part of the research journey is developing key skills that will benefit a research students research and professional development. As a research student at Cranfield, you will be expected to attend the DRCD programme which comprises of four 1 week units which cover the key stages of your research journey. Workshops are held face to face, providing the opportunity for you to network and collaborate with your peers during these valuable development sessions. For further details visit Cranfield's Doctoral Network.
How to apply
For further information please contact:
Name: Dr Emily Guest
Email: Emily.Guest@cranfield.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)1234758268
This vacancy may be filled before the closing date so early application is strongly encouraged.
Note, your application will not be considered unless all relevant documents have been uploaded. For more information please visit Applying for a research degree.
