The International PhD Scholarship aim of this project is to incorporate into the soil biological management of organic residues in order to optimize plant productivity, waste recycling and storage of C. This project will investigate the residue of innovative management strategies that maximize nutrient efficiency, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and replace the energy-expensive fertilizers. The International PhD Scholarship focus will be on earthworms because they dominate the soil fauna activity on the soil medium. This project will combine the optimal foraging theory, stable isotope techniques and modeling to test experimentally if the nutrient release and absorption of C from organic residues can be optimized by adjusting the residual method of application. The stoichiometry of organic residues elements will also be manipulated to control the flow of nutrients according to crop needs and emission of greenhouse gases will be measured.
International PhD Scholarship Students will be supervised jointly by Dr Olaf Schmidt, Dr Jon Yearsley (University College Dublin) and Prof. Brian Griffiths (Teagasc, Wexford). Dr. Schmidt is an expert in earthworm ecology and stable isotope techniques; Professor Griffiths will contribute expertise in the research system and recycling soil nutrients; Dr. Yearsley is an expert in the theory and modeling of foraging ecology.
It is a structured International PhD Scholarship programs and students who are appointed will have access to certain modules and training in generic skills offered by the UCD-TCD Innovation Academy. Value of the scholarship is € 16,000 per year (for up to 4 years) plus a PhD registration fees (tariffs for EU citizens). Date of commencement of compulsory is 1 September 2011.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
This is one project in the Earth and Natural Science PhD Programme 2011, Strand 4 (Project AGR 8). Candidates who wish to apply for this position are requested to read the full PhD Programme descriptions before completing and submitting the dedicated application form, available at here
Further details are contained in the documentation available at this website. Please note that the official submission guidelines must be strictly adhered to or applications will not be considered.
Contact name for further information: Dr. Olaf Schmidt <olaf.schmidt at ucd.ie>
Application Deadline : 13 May 2011
