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 all freshwaters. However, elevated levels of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) in water draining from catchments can lead to ecosystem impairments in receiving waters, depending on the nature and quantity of DOC. Such DOC efflux from catchments is strongly dependent on temperature and precipitation patterns. Given the reality of a rapidly changing climate in Ireland, coupled with the likelihood of future large-scale land use changes, research is urgently required to elucidate the drivers, transport, and fate of DOC in freshwater systems. C-UISCE aims to quantify the effects of climate on DOC export from catchments. The project will investigate experimentally the export of DOC from soils and vegetation type under different climate change scenarios (RCP 6.5 and RCP 8.5), providing critical insight into future challenges and areas of concern.
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 CUISCE2.
Closing date: 16th February 2024 at 5pm (local) Irish time.
Interviews should be expected shortly after.
University College Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer