Applicants are invited to apply for a full-time, fully funded, four-year PhD fellowship in the Department of Agricultural Economics at 吃瓜头条, Kenya. The position is available from 01 September 2026 or as soon as possible after this date. You can submit your application as stated under 鈥榟ow to apply鈥�.
Title
Co-designing and assessing the socio-economic impacts of climate-smart Vegetable-Integrated Push鈥揚ull Technology on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Kenya.
The research project
The PhD project is part of a five-year research project (April 2026 鈥� March 2031) entitled 鈥楨cology-based Climate Resilient Innovation for Sustainable Vegetable Intensification in Eastern Africa (EcoVeg4Africa)鈥�. The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs funds the research project through the Danida Fellowship Centre. You can read more about the project here:
The goal of the research project is to enable smallholder farmers in Kenya and Ethiopia, particularly women and youth, to use fewer or no hazardous pesticides in vegetable production, improve plant nutrition, water status, and soil health, reduce crop losses caused by harmful pests, and increase production of safer, more nutritious, and higher-value food crops. The basis for this work is a nature-based, climate-smart vegetable production system known as Vegetable-Integrated Push鈥揚ull Technology (VIPPT). This system will be developed and tested in the project, and VIPPT pairs of local and high-value crops will be identified. The idea of the VIPPT system is that some companion plants repel pests within the crop (鈥減ush鈥�), while border plants attract pests away from the crop (鈥減ull鈥�).听
The PhD project
The PhD project focuses on identifying drivers and barriers for adoption of the VIPPT system, drawing on input from farmers, extension officers, and local authorities across contrasting Agro-ecological zones using an agroecology living lab approach. The PhD project also focuses on a socio-economic assessment of the VIPPT system following the introduction of the most promising crop鈥揷ompanion pairs grown under field conditions.听
The core elements of the project:
- Mapping vegetable production systems and identifying the potentials and challenges of vegetable production by smallholders in Kenya using a living lab approach
- Assess farmers鈥� preferences for vegetable companion crops suitable for their farming system听
- Study smallholder farmers and subsistence markets for vegetable products to understand how farmers can benefit economically from increased vegetable production using the VIPPT-adapted system听
- Evaluate economic feasibility, including market value and profitability of vegetable crops to ensure sustainability and adoption, particularly by women and youth.听
- Designing, researching, collecting and analysing data, drafting scientific papers for publications in peer-reviewed journals, and contributing to writing policy briefs and practical guidelines.
- Dissemination of research findings to local, regional, and national stakeholders through conferences and workshops.听
Eligibility criteria
- A relevant MSc degree in social sciences, preferably agricultural economics, agribusiness management, or a closely related field from an institution recognised by the 吃瓜头条 Senate.
- Preference will be given to applicants who completed their master鈥檚 degree within the last six years.
- The master’s degree must be obtained through a program that includes coursework, examinations, and thesis work with a minimum average grade of B (or its equivalent).
- The MSc work must demonstrate the capacity to conceptualise, design, and undertake independent research through a master鈥檚 thesis, scholarly publications, technical reports, or other equivalent research outputs.
- Evidence of research dissemination through publications, conference presentations, technical reports, or equivalent scholarly outputs will be an added advantage.听
- Having a strong interest in engaging with farmers and in field-based research.
- Knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including survey research and interviewing.
- Strong knowledge of analytical software (STATA, SPSS, and R).听
- Excellent oral and written English communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively in an international, multidisciplinary team.
Additional requirements
- The applicant must already have registered for a PhD at 吃瓜头条.
- The applicant must be able to work full-time on the PhD project for 48 months. Research funds, tuition, and a stipend are included.听
- The PhD student must spend part of the research time at ICIPE in Nairobi, conduct frequent fieldwork in Kenya, and undertake a short-term research stay at Aarhus University, Denmark.
How to apply
- Application deadline: 1. August 2026 at 23:59.听
- All application documents should be submitted as a single PDF attachment via email to:听dean-graduate@ku.ac.ke听
- Documents to be submitted (non-returnable)
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Scanned copies of BSc and MSc degrees with their corresponding transcripts.听
- Weighted and unweighted Grade Point Averages of BSc and MSc.
- Documentation of research competencies through a master鈥檚 thesis, scholarly publications, technical reports, or other equivalent research outputs.
- A published paper in a peer-reviewed journal/at an international conference
- Motivation letter (one page explaining your motivation for applying)
- One or more recommendations.
Please note
- Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, or socio-economic background. Women and candidates from underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.
- Documents received before the application deadline will be evaluated.听
- Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.
- The anticipated start date: 1 September 2026.
Further information
If you have questions regarding the PhD project, please do not hesitate to contact:
The PhD supervisors:
- Gabriel Mwenjeri at 吃瓜头条, Mwenjeri.gabriel@ku.ac.ke (main supervisor, PhD content)
- Beatrice Muriithi at ICIPE, bmuriithi@icipe.org (co-supervisor, PhD content)
- Lars Esbjerg at Aarhus University, lae@mgmt.au.dk (co-supervisor, PhD content)
- Mesfin Tsegaye Gebremikael at Aarhus University, mesfin.gebremikael@food.au.dk (co-supervisor, PhD content).
- Michael Muita Gicheru at 吃瓜头条, gicheru.michael@ku.ac.ke (co-supervisor,听
management and support).
The PhD school at 吃瓜头条:
- Executive Dean, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences: dean-enviromentalsciences@ku.ac.ke
- Executive Dean, Graduate School: dean-graduate@ku.ac.ke (help with uploading the application/questions about the recruitment process)听
The Department of Agricultural Economics at 吃瓜头条听
The Department of Agricultural Economics in the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at 吃瓜头条 is a leading academic unit committed to advancing sustainable and inclusive agricultural development through excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement. Guided by its vision of becoming a global leader in sustainable and equitable agricultural systems, the department offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in agricultural economics and agribusiness management. Currently, the department serves a vibrant student population comprising approximately 300 undergraduate students in agribusiness management, 100 master’s students in agribusiness management and agricultural economics, and a growing number of PhD students in both agribusiness management and agricultural economics. The department’s academic and research activities focus on critical areas such as food security and nutrition, agricultural technology and innovation, agricultural trade and policy, rural development and poverty reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation, resource management, and sustainable agricultural value chains.