Plant Health Undergraduate Studentships Grant

The Plant Health Undergraduate Studentships, funded by the Royal Society of Biology, provide essential research opportunities for undergraduates in plant health. This program addresses skills gaps by pairing students with leading researchers for hands-on experience, while also supporting projects aligned with Defra's priorities. Students receive £400 per week for 8-10 weeks and participate in a mini-symposium to present their findings. The initiative aims to foster collaboration and innovation in plant health science through diverse research themes.

Funding to host RSB undergraduate studentships in Plant Health. The Royal Society of Biology (RSB) invites applications from researchers wishing to host an undergraduate studentship in plant health.
Purpose
The Plant Health Undergraduate Summer Studentships programme aims to:
Address skills and capacity challenges in plant health science by providing attractive opportunities for research experience to suitable undergraduates, offering them the opportunity to undertake supervised research with leading research groups.Facilitate training of undergraduates in research practice.Encourage research proposals and generate research outcomes in areas relevant to Defra’s plant health priorities.Build networks of research groups, emerging scientists and employers with a focus on plant health.
Core funding from Defra supports the delivery of the programme and funds a number of summer placements, in addition to which the Society invites partner organisations to support further student projects. The RSB is seeking additional Defra funding to support the delivery of the programme to 2029.
Themes
The proposed research project must address at least one of the following themes related to plant health, pests and diseases:

• Risk assessment and horizon scanningInspections, diagnostics and surveillance
• Management of pests and diseases
• Resilience and Adaptation
• Plant Health Behaviours
• Evaluation frameworks
• Award

The awards provide support for the student at a rate of £400 per week for a studentship period of 8-10 weeks. The bursaries produce no National Insurance contribution liability. Each award also includes £500 towards costs to run the research; further research expenses are not offered under this scheme.
Students will be expected to participate in an online mini-symposium to present their project to other students in the programme. On completion of their project, students will be required to produce a poster about their research which may be included in relevant RSB and Member Organisation publications.

Eligibility

Researchers at universities and research institutions within the UK are eligible to apply to host a Plant Health Undergraduate Studentship.
Post-doctoral researchers with the support of their PI may apply to host a Plant Health Undergraduate Studentship. Supervisor applications from within the membership of the RSB, and our member organisations, are encouraged; those who are not RSB members are encouraged to consider the member application process. The successful supervisors will each receive 50% off their RSB membership fee for the following year (this will apply to the initial year of membership for newly-elected members).
Successful applicants are encouraged to join the Plant Health Professional Register.
Studentships funded by the BSPP are available only to BSPP members.
Only one application should be submitted per supervisor.
Projects in which the student will be supervised remotely are eligible for this award.

Ineligibility

PhD students/candidates are not eligible for this award.