Monitoring and evaluating targeted mitigation approaches to improve Water Quality
Fully funded 4-year PhD available at University College Cork
The opportunity: This PhD studentship is an exciting opportunity to work on a national Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) funded project. This PhD candidate will benefit significantly in terms of training and skills development thus leading to significant career opportunities. The candidate will work within a research team comprising of nationally and internationally recognised researchers and academics in key areas including water quality, nutrient management, agronomy and nature-based solutions.
Measures for Water Project and PhD studentship: The Measures for Water project will embrace a unique opportunity and align with the recently approved WaterEIP (~€60m), to assess the effectiveness of clusters of practical, on-farm measures, implemented (through the WaterEIP) to protect and improve water quality across a gradient of scales (i.e. field, farm, catchment). The focus of this, PhD studentship, within the project, is to 1) develop a model to improve nutrient use efficiency at farm level that will be incorporated into PastureBase Ireland and 2) evaluating the effectiveness of farmyard and farm infrastructure measures to mitigate and reduce nutrient losses from farm holdings. The project will include an attractive mixture of field sampling, laboratory, desk-based modelling work and the opportunity to travel to national and international conferences.
Location: The PhD will be based in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), University College Cork. The student will work closely with collaborators in Teagasc Moorepark, Teagasc Johnstown Castle and ATU.
This scholarship award includes: (1) EU Fees for a PhD at UCC for 4 years & (2) An annual stipend of €25,000 (currently for 48 months)
Applicant requirements: You must be able to work both independently, and within a collaborative grouping, and have a full clean driving licence. The successful candidate must be proficient in spoken and written English and hold an Honours Degree (2.1 or higher) in a related scientific discipline (e.g. Agriculture Science, Environmental Science, Plant Science). Previous experience and knowledge of some or all the following skills would be desirable: laboratory and field experiments, grassland agriculture, nature-based solutions, data analyses and ability to communicate with stakeholders.
Applications should comprise of a single PDF Document that contains the following: (1) A cover letter that clearly setting out your suitability and motivation for this PhD with reference to your past relevant experience and achievements and (2) a CV that includes your relevant experience, undergraduate results, postgraduate results (if applicable), any relevant publications and contact information for two referees.
Please send applications to wburchill@ucc.ie and s.harrison@ucc.ie by 24th May 2024.