With more than 500 staff and 163 registered PhD students, the James Hutton Institute is one of the biggest research centres in the UK and the first of its type in Europe.
Our thriving Postgraduate School is testament to our commitment to providing the highest standard of training opportunities to UK and international students. Undertaking postgraduate studies at the James Hutton Institute provides students with valuable experience of working in a professional environment.
Studying for a PhD at the James Hutton Institute
Our Postgraduate Student Liaison Team and your PhD supervisors will ensure you receive support and mentoring throughout your studies to enable you to achieve your full potential. Your studies will enable you to enter the employment market with the comprehensive range of scientific, as well as transferable, skills demanded by a highly competitive employment market.
Our annual Student Competition provides a valuable opportunity and learning experience for you to communicate your work to the wider scientific community. The winners of the oral competition represent the Institute at the annual Scottish Main Research Providers[1] Postgraduate Student Competition.
Opportunities for PhD projects from the James Hutton Institute's annual competitive joint-studentship programme are now being advertised on FindAPhD.com[4].
All these PhD projects are funded jointly between the Institute and participating universities and opportunities are offered from all our Science Groups covering many aspects of our work.
At the James Hutton Institute we value the important contribution students make to the development of our scientific excellence and the expertise, talent and knowledge graduates bring to our research community. The Institute provides a research environment where technical and intellectual competency can flourish.
The support and mentoring PhD students receive throughout their studies from their Institute supervisors and our Postgraduate Student Liaison Team ensure students achieve a high degree of intellectual freedom, whilst equipping students with the comprehensive range of scientific and transferable skills demanded of today's scientists.
Cell and Molecular Sciences PhD Projects
The Role of Light Signalling in Plant Immunity – University of Glasgow
Characterisation of Escherichia Coli )157:H7 Metabolisim During Colonization of Plants – University of Reading
The Role of E3 Ligases on the Modulation of Recombination in Cereals – University of Dundee
Role of UV-B in Modulating Quality and Pest Resistance in Arabidopsis and Crop Plants – University of Glasgow
Host Cell Membrane Tethering During Plant Virus Infection – University of St Andrews
Cross-Kingdom Functional Characterisation of Salmonella Enterica Fimbriae – University of Glasgow
Unravelling Genetic Components of Potato Tuber Dormancy and Sprouting Sensitivity to Ethylene and Sugar Accumulation – University of Sheffield
Environmental and Biochemical Sciences PhD Projects
Developing Risk-Based Approaches to Modelling of Microbial Contamination in Scottish Rivers – University of Stirling
Utilising Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy for the Characterisation of Intertidal Sediments – University of St Andrews
Fate and Impact of Antimony in the Environment: An Ecological Risk Assessment – University of Aberdeen
Development and Test of a Multi-Pollutant Water Quality Model – University of Reading
Novel Constructed Wetland (CWs) Treatment Options for Rural Works – Cranfield University
Ecological Sciences PhD Projects
Designing Crops for the Future Climate - Understanding the Macroecology and the Ideal Phenotype for Thermal Tolerance in Crops – University of Aberdeen
What are the Biophysical Limitations to Deep Rooting? – Heriot Watt University
Cascading Effects of Fisheries Policy Through Bird Communities and the Terrestrial Environment – University of St Andrews
Phytophagus Mite Control in Raspberry: Integrating Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approaches – Harper Adams University
The Carbon Dynamics of Woodland Colonization on Moorland: Above and Below Ground Interactions – University of St Andrews
Environmental Engineering Using Seed Mimics to Support Increased Crop Water Use Efficiency – University of Aberdeen
Determining the Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Water Distribution Systems – University of Strathclyde
Designer Grassland Pastures and Ley Rotations – Aberystwyth University
Assessing Scotland's Pollinator Strategy:A 'Real World' Approach – University of Edinburgh
Biodiversity of Parasitoid Networks and the Impact on Aphid Biocontrol – University of Greenwich
Does Rhizosheath Development Affect Plant Drought Tolerance? – University of Lancaster
Impact of N-Feritlizer Sources on Ammonia Oxidizer Niche Differentiation, Evolution and N2O Production – University of Aberdeen
Novel Biological Methods for Control of Disease in Tree Nurseries – University of Aberdeen
Information and Computational Sciences PhD Project
Multi-Source Remote Sensing for Enhanced Flood Modelling – University of Newcastle
Interkingdom Communication Via Small RNAs:Parasitic Nematodes and their Plant Hosts – University of Edinburgh
Social Justice and the Clean Energy Transition:Modelling Diffusion of Social Innovation – University of Edinburgh
Resource Distribution Networks in Nature and Society – University of Lancaster
Bayesian Network Approaches for Vulnerability Assessment and Management of Diffuse Groundwater Pollution – University of Aberdeen
Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences PhD Projects
Supporting Farmers in Managing the Soil Sustainability:Examining the Effectiveness of Different Advisory Approaches – University of Gloucestershire
Novel Approaches to Engaging Land Managers in Monitoring the Impact of Agri-environment-Climate Schemes – University of Aberdeen