Trinity College Dublin
Job title:
PhD Studentship – Nature-based Solutions (microbiology)
Company
Trinity College Dublin
Job description
There are currently a number of demonstration agri-environmental schemes commencing which incorporate Nature-based Solutions (NbS) linked to farm payments. Tracking the efficacy of the NbS measures included in such schemes and subsequently quantifying the associated environmental benefits accrued will be of huge benefit to many Irish state agencies. It will allow future schemes to be designed to maximise the environmental benefits in the most cost-effective manner possible and will shape future policy in this area.
An outstanding PhD student is sought for a 4-year fully funded project with the objective of providing insight, tools and guidance on the most cost-effective approach to protect water quality & aquatic habitats in different Irish agricultural settings using Nature-based Solutions (NbS). The post is primarily focused on environmental microbiology (or related field) comprising field and laboratory studies. The successful student will instrument and monitor a number of NbS measures, prior to and after construction, within agri-environmental schemes across a range of farm and soil settings in order to quantify microbial abundance, microbial processes, and gaseous emissions and assess their impact on water quality & aquatic ecosystems. Monitoring undertaken by the student will include: CH4 and N2O Fluxes, 13-carbon and 15-nitrogen stable isotopes and Genome-resolved metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. The student may also undertake additional analysis utilising microprocessor measurements depending on the number of sites monitored and the availability of instruments. The student will also be required to assist with the set up and instrumentation of other study sites as part of the wider project team which will examine wider water quality as well as general hydrology. The study sites will be located in the south and west of Ireland (Munster and Connaught).
This PhD studentship will form part of a larger EPA project entitled AgEValuate which will comprise a team of 3 PhD researchers.
This PhD post will commence by the latest date of April 1st 2024.
Standard Duties and Responsibilities of the Post
- Undertaking desk studies, data analysis, report writing, GIS analysis & drafting academic journal papers.
- Completing field studies to monitor gaseous fluxes and microbiology.
- Completing lab analysis to complement the field studies and complete scenario analysis.
- Completing associated numerical modelling and bioinformatics.
- Assisting with field studies including collecting water samples.
- Assisting with instrumenting field study sites.
- Performing other tasks associated with the post as they arise.
Please see full job description for full application procedure.
At Trinity, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Trinity welcomes applications from all individuals, including those applicants with disabilities, those who may have had non-traditional career paths, those who have taken time out for reasons including family or caring responsibilities. We also welcome international applicants including those whom have been displaced due to war.
We are ranked 3rd in the world for gender equality (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2020) and we hold an Athena SWAN Bronze award, recognising our work to advance gender equality. The University is actively pursuing a Silver level award, which it has committed to achieving by 2025. Trinity is committed to supporting the work-life balance and to creating a family-friendly working environment.
Expected salary
Location
Connacht – Munster
Job date
Fri, 19 Jan 2024 05:12:17 GMT
To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your email/cover letter where (jobsnear.org) you saw this job posting.