Fully Funded PhD Opportunities at University College Dublin (UCD): Open Calls for 2026 Entry

University College Dublin (UCD) has announced several prestigious, fully funded PhD opportunities across its Schools of Agriculture and Food Science, and Information and Communication Studies. These competitive scholarships support high-potential researchers in advancing impactful work in ecology, food systems, AI, and digital heritage. Below is an overview of three currently advertised positions, including project descriptions, eligibility criteria, key requirements, and application details.

PhD Opportunity: Seasonal and Spatial Patterns of Badger Diet (School of Agriculture and Food Science)

UCD is inviting applications for a fully funded four-year PhD position beginning in January or May 2026. The project is part of a national collaboration aimed at better understanding the ecology of badgers (Meles meles) in Ireland to support bovine tuberculosis (bTB) eradication. Partner institutions include UCD’s Schools of Agriculture and Food Science and Biology and Environmental Science, alongside the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

This project will analyse badger diet using stable isotope analysis of inert tissues—such as whiskers—to complement ongoing work involving GPS tracking and camera-trap population density studies. By combining diet data with movement and density patterns, the research will help identify how badgers use agricultural landscapes, when they interact with farmlands, and how ecological or management factors influence their behaviour. The outcomes will contribute to both wildlife conservation science and national bTB mitigation efforts.

Key project goals include:

• Examining spatial, temporal, and individual differences in badger diet across Ireland.
• Assessing how diet varies with local density, group size, or broader ecological factors.
• Analysing how culling and vaccination strategies may influence dietary patterns.

Eligibility and Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in biology, ecology, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrable quantitative skills.
• Experience using R for data analysis.
• Proficiency in English (meeting UCD language standards).
• Full-time availability.

Funding Package

• €25,000 annual stipend (tax-free).
• Tuition fully covered at EU and non-EU rates.
• Annual research budget, including €2,000 for travel and conferences.

Application

Deadline: 14 December 2025, 23:59 Dublin time.
Applicants must submit:

• CV
• One-page cover letter
• Academic transcripts
• Contact details for two referees

Enquiries: Dr. Virginia Morera-Pujol.

UCD Ad Astra Doctoral Scholarship: Online Food Shopping Systems (Agribusiness & Rural Development)

The UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science also invites applications for the Ad Astra Doctoral Scholarship exploring the role of online food shopping in shaping global health and environmental outcomes. This four-year programme will begin in May 2026, with flexibility for a September 2026 start.

Research topics may investigate consumer behaviour, psychological drivers of food choice, food purchasing patterns, sustainability, and data-driven approaches to analysing online food environments. Successful candidates will work within UCD’s Agribusiness and Rural Development section, a multidisciplinary area focused on the sustainability and competitiveness of agri-food systems, rural livelihoods, policy analysis, community development, and innovation.

The PhD will be supervised by Dr. Vilma Xhakollari with co-supervision by Dr. Tomás Russell.

Eligibility and Requirements

• First or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in agricultural economics, agricultural extension, food science, business, computer science, or related fields.
• Strong interest in marketing, psychology, technology, or decision-making.
• English language proficiency as required by UCD.
• Full-time commitment.

Funding Package

• €25,000 annual stipend.
• Full tuition fee coverage at EU and non-EU rates.
• Research budget of up to €4,000 annually (subject to PI approval).
• Scholarship renewable annually for up to four years based on progress.

Application

Deadline: 14 December 2025, 23:59 Dublin time.
Required documents:

• CV or résumé
• One-page motivation letter
• Academic transcripts
• Two academic referees’ contact details

Shortlisted applicants may be asked to prepare a presentation or attend an interview.
Queries should be directed to Dr. Vilma Xhakollari.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

To see other Agriculture related opportunities, visit Kochavagromart