About

Plant BioDesign will deliver world-class research and innovation in plant engineering biology, train postgraduates for diverse careers, provide opportunities for industry placements, and bring together the UK plant engineering biology community.

Professor Katherine Denby from the University of York is leading the programme along with partners at the University of Cambridge, the John Innes Centre, and the University of Bristol:

“This exciting doctoral training programme will build skills and deliver new research and innovation using plants to build a sustainable bioeconomy. Plants can be used in many ways, for example as biofactories, replacing chemical synthesis with products made in plants; we can use plants to extract rare earth metals or remove pollutants from soil; and we can reprogramme plants to be more disease resistant or have increased yield under our changing climate.”

Postgraduates on the Plant BioDesign programme will benefit from:

Interdisciplinary training in the engineering of plant systems, including engineering biology courses, workshops with collaborators from across industry/government/non-profit, journal clubs, and events such as hackathons. Skills training will equip postgraduate researchers for diverse career trajectories.

Challenge-focussed research and innovation. We offer plant engineering biology research projects at the four partner institutions, prioritising challenge-focussed, interdisciplinary and industry-led research.

Collaborative and supportive research culture enabling postgraduates to thrive within a well-connected cohort, build strong networks across the UK plant engineering biology community, including academia and industry, and participate in international conferences.

Plant BioDesign postgraduate positions are funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), along with an additional £10,000 annual stipend for the 2026/2027 cohort from the UK government through TechExpert.

Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, UKRI with BBSRC Executive Chair, stated:

"Through these investments, UKRI is strengthening the UK’s leadership in critical technologies while creating meaningful opportunities for businesses, researchers and regions across the country. The IDLAs and DFAs will equip a new generation of talented researchers with the skills to drive innovation, support high-growth sectors and improve lives."

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