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Welcome to the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Understandable agri-food Systems Transformed by Artificial INtelligence (SUSTAIN).

SUSTAIN is a collaboration between the Universities of Lincoln, Aberdeen, Queen’s Belfast and Strathclyde, and focuses on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to sustainable agri-food.

Where the next generation of AI science takes root.

The SUSTAIN Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) empowers the next generation of AI scientists to invent, develop and deploy technologies, co-created with growers and agri-food practitioners.

SUSTAIN facilitates meaningful partnerships between academics and industry, investing in stakeholder-driven innovation.

Be part of the future of food production

Student Applications for 2025/26

Applications are invited for fully-funded four-year PhD studentships to join the SUSTAIN doctoral training program conducting research in the application of Artificial Intelligence to sustainable agri-food.

Our fully-funded studentship package includes:

All PhD tuition fees paid
A tax-free stipend at UKRI rates to cover living costs
A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG)
Additional funding to support outreach and development

Fifteen studentships will be available as part of the second cohort, starting in October 2025. To apply, visit our Applications Page. To find out more about this year's projects, please visit our 2025 Studentships Page.

Application Deadline - apply by Friday 17th January at 12pm (GMT).

Collaborative Studentship Proposals

The Round 3 Call for Studentship Proposals for October 2025 is now officially open!

Deadline: noon on Friday, 7th March 2025

We are delighted to announce a call for Studentship Proposals, open to all potential SUSTAIN CDT supervisors and industry partners.

Funded by UKRI (with some contribution from the industry partner), these proposals aim to engage industry partners in a PhD studentship focused on their specific business challenges, as well as interests of the wider intelligent sustainable agri-food community.

Authorised people within our partner organisations and staff authorised to supervise PhD students within our partner universities are welcome to apply.

Please note that, due to the success of previous recruitment rounds, there are now limited studentships available for October 2025. Proposals that are not funded in October 2025 may be considered for cohort 3, with studentships starting in October 2026. For further information regarding the situation in your organisation, please contact us at SUSTAIN@lincoln.ac.uk.

For more information, please read this guidance document. To submit a project proposal, please download and complete this application form and email the completed copy to SUSTAIN@lincoln.ac.uk.