EASTBIO: Optimizing nitrogen management for climate-resilient Scottish agriculture

This fully funded, 4-year PhD project is part of a competition funded by the BBSRC EASTBIO Doctoral Training Partnership.

This project seeks to develop and optimize innovative nitrogen (N) management strategies in order to strengthen the resilience of Scottish agriculture in the face of climate change. The PhD research will focus on exploring the complex dynamics of nitrogen within the soil-plant system, examining how nitrogen inputs interact with soil health, crop productivity, and climate adaptation. By understanding these relationships, the project aims to promote sustainable agricultural practices which balance productivity with environmental stewardship.

Project Objectives:

1. Investigate the impact of nitrogen on soil health: Analyse how different forms and input levels of nitrogen affect critical soil health indicators, such as Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), pH, microbial activity, and nutrient availability.
2. Assess different nitrogen management approaches on crop productivity: Evaluate how varying nitrogen management strategies influence crop yield and quality (e.g., 1000 grain weight and grain nitrogen) through a field experiment on croplands.
3. Develop climate-resilient nitrogen management strategies: Based on findings from the field experiment, formulate nitrogen management approaches designed to enhance Scottish agriculture's resilience to climate change. This will involve modelling the long-term impacts of these practices under various climate change scenarios using UKCP18.

Methodology:

The project will adopt a combination of field experiments, laboratory analyses, and modelling approaches:

1. Field experiment: Conducted on croplands to evaluate different nitrogen management practices.
2. Laboratory analyses: Used to measure soil health indicators and nutrient availability, supporting the assessment of nitrogen’s effects on soil systems.
3. Modelling approaches: Predict the impacts of nitrogen management strategies under varying climate scenarios, offering insights into long-term sustainability and resilience.

This research will ultimately provide science-based evidence and recommendations for nitrogen management in Scottish agriculture, fostering practices which enhance productivity while supporting climate adaptation.

For further project information please contact the lead project supervisor by selecting the first listed name at the top of this advert and sending your enquiry.

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ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants should hold a minimum of a 2:1 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject. Those with a 2:2 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) may be considered, provided they have (or are expected to achieve) a Distinction or Commendation at master’s level.

We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities, and are committed to having a diverse, inclusive team.

All students must meet the eligibility criteria as outlined in the UKRI guidance on funding for postgraduate training and development. This guidance should be read in conjunction with the Terms and conditions for training funding – UKRI.

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APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

• Please visit this page for full application information: https://biology.ed.ac.uk/eastbio/how-to-apply
• Please send your completed EASTBIO application form, along with academic transcripts and certificates to pgrs-admissions@abdn.ac.uk
• Please ensure that two references are submitted by the deadline using the EASTBIO reference form (available here). If the references are not included with your application, they must be sent directly to pgrs-admissions@abdn.ac.uk with the subject line: "EASTBIO Reference – [Your Name]".
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that references are submitted by the deadline (17^th January). We will not request academic references on your behalf.
• Please ensure you submit all the required information and documentation. Due to workload constraints, we are unable to follow up on missing documents or process incomplete applications.
• If you require any additional assistance in submitting your application or have any queries about the application process, please don't hesitate to contact us at pgrs-admissions@abdn.ac.uk