SRUC has announced funding for 18 new PhD research projects which will address a wide range of issues within the rural sector.

Topics to be explored include the need to reduce carbon emissions in farming, utilising crops for biomass, and the use of computing and data science to improve animal health.

Fitting timely with the recent frustrations raised over pests and predation on Scotland’s hills, a jointly-registered PhD post at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies and SRUC, will investigate the causes of lamb loss on Highland farms and crofts – known as ‘blackloss’. The project will investigate possible causes of blackloss, including predation by wild birds and mammals, infectious diseases and poor ewe nutrition resulting in malnutrition of lambs.

SRUC head of research Professor Eileen Wall, said: “These new PhD studentships, which we are offering in partnership with universities and other organisations across Scotland, Ireland, the USA and the Netherlands, are an important part of SRUC’s journey towards becoming a university that acts as a core driver of the rural economy. International collaboration is a vital part of our work and our world-leading research is having a global impact."

Starting in September 2019, successful candidates will be registered at a partner university and will receive an annual student stipend of just over £15,000 a year.

The closing date for applications is March 3. For more information, or to apply for a studentship, visit SRUC’s job page.