Can the vitamin content of salads and herbs be enriched through optimisation of the light environments they are grown in?

Get paid to do a PhD with the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation (http://www.globalecoinnovation.org/) at Lancaster University.

Funded PhD linked with May Barn Consultancy Limited Ref. No. LU002
• Get paid £1,455 per month tax-free till June 2023.
• Your UK/EU tuition fees are paid (international candidates will need to pay remaining fees).
• Be part of the multi award winning Centre for Global Eco-Innovation (http://www.globalecoinnovation.org/ within a cohort of talented graduates working on exciting business-led research. The Centre was declared “The outstanding knowledge exchange and commercialisation initiative in the UK”.
• This project is based at Lancaster University (https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/), so you will gain your PhD from a Top Ten University, recognised as The Times and Sunday Times University of the Year 2018 and International University of the Year 2020. You will also work alongside colleagues at partner institutions across the North West.
• Finish in a strong position to enter a competitive job market in the UK and overseas.

May Barn Consultancy is a Cheshire based consultancy which specialises in advice on intensive crop cultivation in vertical farms, as well as other protected crop structures. They provide consultancy services to the UK horticultural industry and are especially passionate about hydroponics, nutrient recirculation and technical system management as well as glasshouse building and replacement.

Hydroponic plant production can be much more efficient in terms of its use of water, energy and nutrients compared to traditional outdoor or glasshouse production. It also offers the opportunity to grow crops in an urban environment, hence reducing the associated food mileage. This project aims to apply photobiology research to design optimal LED-driven systems which not only have minimized energy inputs but also produce highly nutritious salad herbs.

The successful candidate will have a 2:1 or first degree in environmental sciences, molecular biology or biochemistry. They will have a capability or a strong interest in photobiology, plant physiology and metabolisms, data handling and analysis, as well as experience working a laboratory.

This PhD will be supervised by Dr Gabriella Toledo-Ortiz who is an experienced Plant Molecular Photobiologist in the Lancaster Environment Centre.

This project is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is subject to funding confirmation.

APPLY NOW - http://www.globalecoinnovation.org/graduate-opportunities-2/research-post-lu004/