Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Biosystems Design (Plant Sciences) at University of Cambridge

Plant Biosystems Design is jointly administered by the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge and York, and the John Innes Centre. It aims to catalyse interdisciplinary partnerships and drive innovation in the application of engineering principles to plant biology and biotechnology. Research projects will develop knowledge, talent and technologies to provide sustainable access to plant products, optimise crop performance and drive novel applications of plants through rational engineering.

Faculty: School of the Biological Sciences  |  Department: Department of Plant Sciences  |  Duration: 3-4 years full-time; 4-7 years part-time  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Intake: October 2027  |  Location: Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

All students must undertake a placement which lasts a minimum of three months. This placement does not need to occur in one single continuous period. iCASE students must undertake a placement with their Industrial Partner for a minimum of three months. Within forty-eight months after the start of a student's full-time PhD programme, they will be expected to have completed and submitted a thesis of no more than 60,000 words (80,000 by special permission) exclusive of tables, footnotes, bibliography, and appendices.

Career pathways

Graduates will have a good grounding in the collation and organisation of research for reports or peer-reviewed papers and will be prepared for a career in academia or in other fields such as industry or policy.

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