The potential impact of forest intensification on the quality of timber and its end use (Masters by Research)

This research masters is part of the FASTFORESTS project: "Impacts of faster growing forests on raw material properties with consideration of the potential effects of a changing climate on species choice"

The aims of FastForests are to:
(i) identify ways of protecting future wood supplies under a changing climate,
(ii) improve raw material allocation approaches and increase efficiency of wood utilisation, and
(iii) ascertain societal and stakeholder perceptions of faster-growing forests and their products.

FastForests is a multidisciplinary collaboration between UCD and NUI Galway in Ireland and several other institutions based in France and Germany. The research in Ireland is being funded from 2014-2017 by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

In the project on the potential impact of forest intensification on the quality of timber and its end use, the student will assess the wood quality of trees prior to mill processing in stands that differ in the level of intensification applied. The post-processing wood quality attributes will be assessed in a separate study carried out by NUIG.

Applications are sought from highly motivated individuals who have an excellent academic record (preferably a first class primary degree or equivalent) in forestry (both posts), wood science (MSc 1), mathematics (MSc 2) or closely related disciplines.
Support will also be required for reporting to the funding agency, DAFM, participation in the preparation of publications, and presentation of research at scientific meetings, as required by the senior researchers on the project, though these activities will be a minor component of the work.
Because of a significant requirement for field sampling, it will be necessary for the candidate to have a full driving licence.