soil carbon PhD Projects, Programs & Scholarships

Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

BACKGROUND. Over the last century, agriculture has caused soil erosion and the loss of soil organic carbon on an enormous scale.

The role of soil organic carbon in soil function dynamics

University College Dublin
School of Biosystems Engineering

Dr S O'Rourke

Application Deadline: 1 November 2019

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Sustainable food production is top of the global policy agenda.

Does Stripping Topsoil of Carbon Cause Irreversible Physical Degradation?

Aberdeen University
School of Biological Sciences

Prof P Hallett, Prof J Smith

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Severe soil degradation is prevalent across much of sub-Saharan Africa, driven primarily by the depletion of carbon from the soil.

The Impact of Management on Grassland and Cropland Soil Organic Carbon

University of Limerick
Department of Biological Sciences

Dr K Byrne

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Background. Carbon (C) sequestration associated with pastures and improved grassland management could provide a mitigation option without impacting on agricultural production.

Herbivore and mycorrhizal mediation of carbon cycling in heather moorlands

University of Leeds
Faculty of Biological Sciences

Research Group: School of Biology

Dr S M Sait, Prof K. Field, Prof P Chapman

Application Deadline: 6 January 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

The multiple drivers of environmental change, such as climate change and pollution, have led to widespread negative impacts on ecosystem functioning and services that are critical for human well-being.

Towards more sustainable use of phosphorus in UK grasslands considering soil-plant interactions

The University of Manchester
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Dr V Niasar, Prof D Johnson, Dr S Lee

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

This ambitious project will lead to a major shift in how soil phosphorus (P), is managed in UK grasslands.

Rising from the ashes: Understanding the biological resilience and social significance of fires in the UK

Keele University
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Dr H C Glanville

Application Deadline: 31 October 2019

Funding Type

PhD Type

Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project has funding attached for UK and EU students, though the amount may depend on your nationality. Non-EU students may still be able to apply for the project provided they can find separate funding. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Project description. Aim. To investigate the resilience of upland soils to wildfires and examine the social significance of wildfires in the UK rural landscape.

Coupled carbon, water and heat fluxes over the global land surface

University of Reading
Department of Meteorology

Prof K Haines, Dr TL Quaife, Dr D Hemming

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Simulating changes to the Earth’s energy, water and carbon cycles is a key goal of climate and earth system models.

How does soil microbial diversity impact upon above-ground drought tolerance in plants?

University of York
Department of Biology

Dr A Hodge, Dr J Ferrari, Prof J Gray

Application Deadline: 8 January 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

Microbes perform several key roles in soils including in the supply of many. nutrients through the degradation of soil organic matter, and can contribute to.

Impacts of Climate Change on Ecosystems

University of Sheffield
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences

Dr G Phoenix

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.