Canada, Scholarships

🎓 Fully Funded PhD at University of Manitoba 2026 — Smart & Digital Agriculture

Gradualin

May 2, 2026
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The University of Manitoba, Canada is offering a rare, fully funded PhD opportunity in Smart and Digital Agriculture — and it comes with complete stipend support from day one. This isn’t a partial award or a tuition waiver. If selected, you join a cutting-edge research lab working on AI, drones, robotics, and machine learning for the future of food production.

Dr. Jiating Li’s research group at the Department of Biosystems Engineering is looking for 1–2 highly motivated PhD students to join their team. The research sits at the intersection of agriculture, artificial intelligence, and engineering — one of the fastest-growing academic fields globally. Whether your background is in engineering, computer science, or agricultural sciences, this could be the career-defining step you’ve been waiting for.

In this guide, you’ll find everything: the funding details, eligibility, application steps, and exactly what documents to send. Read on and decide if this is your opportunity.

🎓 QUICK INFO BOX

Detail	Information
University	University of Manitoba
Country	Canada (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Degree Level	PhD (Doctoral)
Funding Type	Fully Funded — Full Stipend Support
Best Consideration Date	May 20, 2026
Start Date	January 2027
Open To	International & Domestic Students
Positions Available	1–2 Students
Official Website	umanitoba.ca

🎓 Scholarship / Opportunity Overview

The University of Manitoba (UM) is a flagship research institution and a proud member of the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities — a group representing Canada’s most research-intensive institutions. With over 145 years of history, UM has built a global reputation in agriculture, engineering, health sciences, and beyond.

The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences is internationally recognized and was ranked 2nd in Canada in the 2024 Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. That’s not just a number — it means the research you contribute to will be seen, cited, and respected worldwide.

What makes this PhD position stand out globally is the interdisciplinary nature of the work. Dr. Li’s lab combines sensing systems, machine learning, AI, and decision-support tools for real-world precision agriculture applications. You won’t be stuck in a narrow silo — you’ll work across engineering, data science, and biological systems.

With only 1–2 positions available, this is a selective and competitive opportunity. The fact that it includes full stipend support makes it especially valuable for international candidates who typically face financial barriers to doctoral study in Canada.

🎓 Benefits & Funding Details

This is a fully funded PhD position. Here’s what that means in practice:

💵 Full Stipend Support Successful candidates receive a full stipend for the duration of their PhD. Stipend amounts for funded PhD positions at Canadian research universities typically range from CAD $20,000–$30,000 per year (approximately USD $14,500–$22,000). Verify exact amount with Dr. Li’s lab directly.

📚 Tuition Coverage Funded PhD positions at UM typically include tuition coverage or waiver as part of the research stipend arrangement (verify on official website).

🔬 Research Resources Full access to UM’s world-class labs, computing infrastructure, drone and robotics equipment, and multi-modal sensing facilities as part of an interdisciplinary team.

🌐 International Exposure Opportunities to publish in top-tier journals, present at international conferences, and collaborate with global research partners in smart agriculture.

Here’s the best part: This position is funded through the research lab, meaning your income is stable throughout your PhD — not dependent on winning competitive scholarship applications every year.

🎓 Eligibility Criteria

Minimum Requirements:

A Master’s degree in one of the following fields:
- Agricultural and Biological Engineering
- Biosystems Engineering
- Computers and Electrical Engineering
- Computer Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Or other closely related disciplines
Must meet the minimum admission and English language requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at UM

English Language Requirement: English proficiency tests (IELTS/TOEFL) may be required for international students whose first language is not English. However, applicants from English-medium universities may be exempt. Check UM’s Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements for your specific country — some candidates may qualify without IELTS.

Preferred Qualifications (Competitive Advantage):

Knowledge of agricultural or crop production systems
Programming skills in Python, R, Matlab, or C++
Experience with machine learning and deep learning
Familiarity with physics/process-based models (crop growth, climate, radiative transfer)
Multi-modal sensing experience (optical, thermal, environmental, 2D/3D data)
Mechatronics and robotics background (mechanical design, ROS)
Records of previous scientific publications (a strong plus)

🎓 Who Should Apply — And Who Should Not

✅ Apply if you:

Have a Master’s degree in engineering, computer science, or agricultural sciences
Are passionate about AI, machine learning, or data-driven agriculture
Want to live and research in Canada with financial support
Can code in Python, Matlab, or similar and want to use it for real-world problems
Are self-motivated and ready to work in an interdisciplinary team

❌ Don’t apply if you:

Only hold a Bachelor’s degree with no Master’s
Have no background in engineering, computer science, or agricultural science
Are seeking a scholarship — not an employment-style research position
Cannot commit to starting in January 2027

🎓 Available Research Areas & Programs

The PhD positions are in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and cover three cutting-edge research themes:

🛸 1. Sensing Systems Develop integrated ground-aerial platforms — including drones, robots, and IoT devices — for high-throughput and scalable crop monitoring. This is field-level, applied engineering.

🤖 2. Data Modeling Advance knowledge-guided machine learning by integrating AI with physics-based models for robust crop prediction. This is where computer science meets crop science.

🌱 3. Decision Support Develop intelligent decision-making platforms for precision crop management — covering fertilization, irrigation, and harvesting. Turning data into actionable insights.

🎓 Required Documents

Send the following directly to Dr. Jiating Li at jiating.li@umanitoba.ca:

Curriculum Vitae (CV) — Full academic and professional resume
Brief Statement of Intent — Maximum 2 pages explaining your research interests and fit
Copies of all post-secondary transcripts — Include all degrees earned
A sample of publication — If available (a published paper, thesis chapter, or conference paper)

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted due to the large volume of applications. Make sure your statement of intent clearly connects your background to Dr. Li’s research themes.

🎓 Step-by-Step Application Process

Review the research areas — Read through Dr. Li’s three research themes (sensing, modeling, decision support) and identify which aligns best with your background.
Prepare your CV — Highlight technical skills (coding, publications, lab experience) relevant to smart agriculture and engineering.
Write your Statement of Intent — Keep it to 2 pages maximum. Explain why you’re interested in Dr. Li’s lab specifically, and what research direction excites you most.
Gather transcripts — Collect official or unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended.
Compile a publication sample — Even a thesis chapter or conference abstract counts if you have no published paper yet.
Email your application — Send all documents to jiating.li@umanitoba.ca before May 20, 2026.
Wait for interview invitation — Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online interviews around the first week of June 2026.

🎓 Important Dates & Deadlines

Event	Date
Best Consideration Deadline	May 20, 2026
Online Interviews (Shortlisted Only)	First week of June 2026
PhD Start Date	January 2027
Position Status	Open Until Filled

Bookmark this page and check back for updates. The position is “Open Until Filled” — but applying by May 20, 2026 gives you the best chance of consideration.

🎓 Why Apply — Why University of Manitoba & Canada

Winnipeg is one of Canada’s most culturally diverse cities — affordable, welcoming to international students, and growing fast as a tech and agricultural hub. Canada itself is one of the world’s top destinations for international PhD students, offering post-study work rights, pathways to permanent residency, and a high quality of life.

What makes Dr. Li’s lab particularly exciting is the focus on real-world impact. Smart agriculture is not a niche academic topic — it’s a global priority. With climate change threatening food security worldwide, the research done in this lab could directly influence how the world grows food in the next 20 years.

The University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences is ranked 2nd in Canada in its field. Publishing from this lab means your work enters a globally respected academic conversation. And the U15 membership means access to the strongest research networks in the country.

What makes this different from most opportunities is the combination: a funded position, a world-ranked university, in a field that matters — all accessible through a direct email application process. No complex portals. No application fees.

🎓 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is this a scholarship or a paid research position? A: This is a funded PhD research position — meaning you receive a stipend (salary-like support) in exchange for conducting research in Dr. Li’s lab. It’s not a traditional scholarship application through a government body, but the financial support is real and covers your living costs during the PhD.

Q: Do I need IELTS or TOEFL to apply? A: English language test requirements depend on your educational background and country of origin. International students from non-English-medium universities will typically need IELTS or TOEFL. Students from English-taught institutions may be exempt. Check UM’s Faculty of Graduate Studies language requirements page for your specific situation (verify on official website).

Q: Can I apply with only a Bachelor’s degree? A: No. The minimum requirement is a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as biosystems engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, or agricultural sciences. A Bachelor’s degree alone does not meet the eligibility criteria for this PhD position.

Q: What if I don’t have any publications? A: Publications are listed as a preferred qualification, not a hard requirement. The job posting says “a sample of publication (if available)” — so if you don’t have one, simply submit without it. A strong CV, excellent transcripts, and a compelling statement of intent can still make you competitive.

Q: When does the PhD start? A: The intended start date is January 2027. Plan your timeline accordingly — if shortlisted, interviews happen in June 2026, leaving time to arrange visa applications and relocation to Winnipeg.

Q: Is this open to international students? A: Yes. The posting does not restrict to Canadian citizens or permanent residents. International students are welcome to apply, provided they meet UM’s admission and English language requirements for graduate studies.

🎓 Official Source & Contact

Official University Website: https://umanitoba.ca
Department: https://umanitoba.ca/engineering/biosystems
Contact Dr. Jiating Li: jiating.li@umanitoba.ca
Address: E2-376 EITC, Winnipeg MB R3T 5V6, Canada
Tel: 204-474-6033

🎓 Full Summary Table

Detail	Information
University	University of Manitoba
Department	Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences
Position	PhD Student (1–2 positions)
Country	Canada (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Research Areas	Smart Agriculture, Sensing, Machine Learning, Decision Support
Funding	Fully Funded — Full Stipend Support
Minimum Qualification	Master’s Degree in Engineering, CS, or Agricultural Sciences
English Requirement	Required for non-English-medium graduates (verify on official website)
Best Consideration Date	May 20, 2026
Start Date	January 2027
Application Method	Email directly to Dr. Jiating Li
Open Until Filled	Yes
Official Website	umanitoba.ca