ABOUT BARITONE
The programme
BARIToNE: Barley Industrial Training Network is a £3.6m BBSRC and industry-funded seven-year Collaborative Training Partnership (CTP) led by the Scotch Whisky Research Institute. It will support 30 PhD researchers to carry out cutting-edge
research projects driven by industry needs and focuses on the medium-long term challenge of maintaining a sustainable supply of local high-quality barley, produced using fewer inputs and having fewer environmental impacts. It will
provide state of the art research training through close academic associations with the International Barley Hub (IBH) and innovation through industry-relevant research. It is focused on research excellence as a vehicle to ensure
the long-term sustainability of barley supply and value chains.
The BARIToNE CTP comprises 18 industrial and 7 academic collaborating partners. All participants endeavour for their products to be carbon neutral and support initiatives that reduce environmental impacts across all sectors of the supply and value chain. The principal focus of this industry-led CTP is driving down the environmental footprint of primary production while maintaining a sustainable supply of high-quality barley. Projects are under three overlapping research themes: Climate resilience, reducing inputs, and healthy soils.
How to apply
Applications to the BARIToNE programme are made through an on-line pre-application form.
When we are recruiting to our programme, you should ensure that you submit your application by the specified deadline. After the deadline has passed, anonymised application forms are shortlisted by a panel. If invited to the next stage,
you will be interviewed by members of the research project team as well as representation from the BARIToNE executive committee.
2024 project availability coming soon.
Applications are welcome from ‘Home’ students. To be classed as a ‘Home’ student, candidates must meet the following criteria:
Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
Have settled status, or
Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
Have indefinite leave to remain or enter
More details on UKRI eligibility criteria can be found in the Training Grant T&C’s here.
Applicants are expected to hold (or be about to achieve) at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or demonstrable equivalent experience) in a relevant subject (e.g. Biology, Genetics, Plant Sciences, Ecology, Soil Science, Computer Sciences
etc.).
What we offer
All students on the programme will receive a full UKRI stipend (currently £18,622), with funding also covering tuition fees, training, and travel budget. We also offer enhanced support to individuals with primary care responsibilities
and/or disabilities. Part-time study is an option for some of the projects (please indicate at time of application).
Each year there will be a limited number of positions available to candidates with International fee status (linked to the 30% cap set by our UKRI funder, BBSRC).
Key elements of the programme:
- Collaborative PhD projects run by internationally renowned scientists
- Work placement(s) of 3-6 months in the industry research environment
- Comprehensive skills training across the entire barley supply and value chain
- BARIToNE specific training resourced by making use of knowledge and provisions across the academic and industrial partners (Induction events, Intellectual property and Entrepreneurship training, visits to farms, malting sites and
many more) - A voice in the decision making, representing your peers as BARIToNE Champion.
Training overview
You will have the opportunity to get to know and work with your peers in BARIToNE through a variety of collaborative and leadership-skills activities. From year 1 to 4, there will be regular cohort training events.
Year 1 Foundations will introduce you to the programme via the BARIToNE Induction. You will also have training on intellectual property (to be delivered by Research and Innovation Services, based at the University
of Dundee).
Year 2 Progress will feature more advice on your industry placement starting with a Q&A on this topic. Furthermore, you will attend an entrepreneurship virtual workshop, delivered by experts in this field
from the Centre for Entrepreneurship (based at the University of Dundee). This summer workshop (2-hour long, weekly sessions, taking place between mid May to late June) will give you a wide, practice-based experience that can inform
your future choices. The Centre will also provide year-long mentoring and support to you, including with participation in competitions such as Venture and Accelerator.
Year 3 Advanced will bring your industry placement, the date and duration of which to be agreed with your academic and industrial supervisory team. Your experience of this 3-6 month period will be informed by
and noted in our industry placement workbooks. It is important that you keep the CTP Manager (David High) updated for the proposed timings of your industrial placement.
Year 4 Employable Me will be the final year of your study and training with BARIToNE. We aim to bring all your skills and knowledge at the forefront with many opportunities for networking and careers advice from
a list of potential mentors from academic and industrial partners in our CTP.
Student Support
Equity: We aim for all our postgraduate researchers to have equitable experiences.
We formulated a series of actions to facilitate equity. Firstly, researchers on this programme will be invited to let us know of any reasonable adjustments that would make your workplace more accessible, such as adjustable height lab
benching, quiet office. For the researchers who disclosed a disability during their application process, they will be prompted to the host organisation’s Disability Services for specialist advice, if desired. Secondly, we aim to
provide enhanced stipends to our students with primary care responsibilities. For example, for those with primary school children or younger. To help mitigate extra expenses and practical challenges, we will invite you at the beginning
of your PhD to state if you have caring duties. Thirdly, we commit to offer grants to support attendance at career development and training activities, as well as children’s clubs at events and work to family-friendly timetables.
We outline below the measures and resources available for students, aimed at fostering and promoting your wellbeing during your time on the CTP and hopefully, beyond.
Pastoral Support: A variety of pastoral support is available to researchers on the BARIToNE CTP.
Thesis monitoring committees have pastoral roles especially in picking up any problems in student–supervisor relationships. The heads of postgraduate studies usually offer monthly drop-ins that are impartial and confidential. The CTP
administrative staff have mental health first aid trained staff, as they are frequently the frontline of student enquiries. Outside of your immediate academic environment, you will have access to Student Support Services including
Disability Services, Mental Health Service and Counselling Service via welcoming Enquiry Hubs; multi-denominational Chaplaincies and Global Rooms/International student clubs that run social activities and enquiry desks. Each host
organisation has Student Unions that can provide an extensive list of student societies you can join. A society is a group of students sharing the same interests. Joining one or even more societies can ensure you make like-minded
friends during your journey and maybe beyond!
For more information on societies visit:
DUSA at the University of Dundee
SU at the University of Nottingham
