Industry collaboration opportunities

How you can work with us

We welcome collaborations with business, industry and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and would like to hear from potential new partners.

Our world-class plant science research encompasses the breadth of plant and microbial biology, from the molecular to the ecological with applications in food production, renewable energies, materials, synthetic biology, ecology and more. Our cutting-edge scientific research leads to breakthroughs in our understanding of natural and cultivated plant systems and addresses questions across disciplines and scales, helping to support the growing bioeconomy, sustainable technologies, food security and conservation.

We work to achieve five goals:

  • Enhancing production of plant derived products
  • Reducing agricultural inputs
  • Cutting losses from pests and pathogens
  • Enabling resilience to environmental change
  • Delivering sustainable bio-diverse landscapes

If you are interested in finding out more about how your organisation can work together with the Department of Plant Sciences, please contact the Deputy Head of Department (Research), Alex Webb. 

You can also sign up to our 6-monthly industry newsletter to stay in touch, hear our latest research news and find out about new opportunities to work together.

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Partnership opportunities and benefits

      We are keen to collaborate with business, industry and NGO partners through: 

      Developing research relationships

      Internships

      • We want to promote opportunities for our students to gain an insight into the breadth of work across plant biology, working with you to address real-world challenges and experience a different working culture
      • Details of both existing summer internship schemes, and bespoke projects that can be developed for our students, could be advertised
      • You could also host a student as part of the Professional Internships for PhD Students (PIPS) scheme; if you have any queries or would like to discuss this further, please contact Sandra Di Eleonora, the School of Biological Sciences BBSRC DTP Coordinator

      Recruitment opportunities 

      • The Department of Plant Sciences' annual careers expo, held in the Autumn, is an excellent opportunity to meet, mingle, and discuss career opportunities with our students and postdocs 
      • There are also opportunities for you to raise the profile of your organisation and meet our students at the careers fairs organised by the Careers Service:

      Life Sciences Careers Fair, annually in October

      • Welcomes organisations working across plant science and agriculture, in addition to those in the biomedical field and healthcare, and organisations who provide services to life science-based firms.

      The Green Careers Festival, annually in January 

      • Please contact Sally Cox if you are interested in exhibiting. 

      We are also happy to discuss other opportunities you have in mind. These might include: 

      Industry funded PhDs

      • Propose PhD research projects to inspire our students, who can provide access to cutting-edge research results and help you to solve real-world problems
      • Please contact the Postgraduate Administrator if you have an enquiry relating to studentships 

      Postdoctoral research projects

      • Organisations can benefit from the input of experienced researchers

      Tailored visits  

      • Get to know us; we can arrange a meeting with our academics to discuss industry and research challenges of mutual interest

      Industrial seminars

      • A chance to enthuse students with stories of the challenges being faced in the real world

      Consultancy 

      • This may encompass individual academics giving advice as consultants, or providing targeted executive development or education