UKRI has announced the Doctoral Focal Awards in AI and Data in the Biosciences and the Doctoral Focal Awards in Engineering Biology. 

Introduced by UKRI in January 2024, Doctoral Focal Awards fund research training for doctoral students in specific, tightly focused themes or challenges with a focus on a highly tailored training programme.

For the AI and Data in the Biosciences scheme, the aim is to train the next generation of leaders in computational approaches for bioscience research and innovation, including data science, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The inclusion of AI/ML as a thematic area is mandatory for all applications. Applications are expected to cover a range of basic and applied bioscience challenges within your chosen thematic area or areas and be within BBSRC remit, rather than exclusively on a singular topic. There is funding available for up to a maximum of 20 notional studentships per intake over the course of three annual intakes. BBSRC expects to fund a minimum of one and a maximum of two doctoral focal awards on AI and data in the biosciences.

For the Engineering Biology scheme, the aim is to train the next generation of leaders across the emerging field of engineering biology. Training programmes should aim to focus on harnessing the transformative potential of discovery-driven research and its application to address a diverse range of major global grand challenges which align to the National Engineering Biology Programme (NEBP). There is funding available from BBSRC, EPSRC, NERC and MRC for up to a maximum of 33 notional studentships per intake over the course of three annual intakes. 

For both calls, applications can be submitted by a single institution or by multiple institutions. UKRI encourages applications which feature a consortia of different research organisations. The project lead organisation will act as the training grant award holder, if successful. Project lead organisations will provide the principal base (host) for a minimum of one student per year of intake. The funder expects institutions to support a minimum cohort size of five studentships per year, equating to a minimum of 15 studentships total across the lifetime of the award. The funder/s will fund 100% of the full economic cost (FEC). 

UKRI will host a webinar for both calls on Thursday 30 January at 10:30 am. Please register here to attend.

For full information about each award, please see the call pages for each award (Doctoral Focal Awards in AI and Data in the Biosciences and the Doctoral Focal Awards in Engineering Biology).

University Internal selection: