PhD Position (CUISCE1) - Dept of Geography/School of BEES/ERI

Closing Date for Applications: 16 Feb 2024
Department: Department of Geography, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Environmental Research Institute
Contract Type: Fixed Term Whole-Time
Job Type: Research
Salary: see advert for stipend details

4-year funded PhD position

Carbon and catchments - Understanding the Impacts and Sources of Carbon Export from land to water (C-UISCE)

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time PhD in the Department of Geography and the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) on ‘Carbon and catchments - Understanding the Impacts and Sources of Carbon Export from land to water (C-UISCE)’. The C-UISCE project is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Project Description

Carbon in water is a natural and essential component of waterbodies chemical makeup. However, elevated levels of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) can lead to environmental issues. The C-UISCE project aims to improve our understanding of the sources and processes influencing the export of carbon from land to water, and its implications for water quality and aquatic ecosystem functioning. The project objective is to quantify the spatial and temporal (meteorological/seasonal) variations in DOC concentrations and fluxes within catchments of different dominant land cover and land use (e.g., peatlands, forestry, agriculture). The project will also assess the impact of carbon cycle dynamics, DOC dynamics and associated physiochemistry on water quality (ecological and drinking water) at sub-catchment scale.

C-UISCE Project Team

The project will be supervised by Drs Michelle McKeown, John Weatherill, Jean O’Dwyer, Simon Harrison (UCC), Dr Aaron Potito (UoG), Dr Paul Hynds (TUD), Dr Florence Wilson (UCD).

Candidate Attributes

Candidates should hold a first (1.1) or second class (2.1) honours degree (or equivalent) in Environmental Science, Geoscience, Geography or equivalent. They will be expected to conduct fieldwork around Ireland and should hold a full driving licence. The PhD is fully funded for 4 years, carrying a stipend of €25,000 per annum plus fees.

Start date: Ideally 1st April 2024

Further Information

Dr Michelle McKeown, Department of Geography, University College Cork (UCC), Cork City, Ireland. Email: mmckeown@ucc.ie

To Apply:

Please submit an electronic copy of Cover Letter and Curriculum Vitae with 2 referees’ contact details and a letter stating your interest and suitability for the PhD position to Dr Michelle McKeown (mmckeown@ucc.ie). Title of email should be CUISCE1.

Closing date: 16th February 2024 at 5pm (local) Irish time.

Interviews should be expected shortly after.

University College Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer