Novel Control Method for Weeds and Biology affecting Sports Turf

The All England Lawn Tennis Club Three Year PhD Studentship at Harper Adams University

Harper Adams University is the UK’s leading agri-food university, with a very active research programme addressing themes such as the soil sustainability and integrated pest management. Harper Adams University has a thriving PhD community located in Shropshire with access to transport links to Birmingham and Stafford and excellent local amenities.

In collaboration with the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in Wimbledon, the impacts of a novel method for controlling weeds and soil pests and microbes will be investigated and developed for effective sports turf management. While initial application of the method has been promising, this project will investigate the underlying mechanisms of the impacts of the method including on the soil biome, soil structural impacts and interactions with soil nutrients important for the production of grass for sports turf. Alongside field investigations using some of the tennis courts at the AELTC in Wimbledon, there is scope to design a range of experiments at Harper Adams on aspects including soil biodiversity, soil structure, and nutrient dynamics thereby allowing development of the candidate’s skills across multiple disciplines. Attendance at national and international conferences is expected and encouraged with some funding available.
The university wishes to recruit a PhD student to address the subject matter outlined above. The candidate should have an excellent academic record with a primary degree in agriculture, microbiology, or biological/environmental sciences. An MSc in similar topics would be an advantage. The project will be run and supervised in collaboration between the All England Lawn Tennis Club and Harper Adams University. The student will be primarily located at Harper Adams University with regular visits to AELTC in Wimbledon.
Applications should be made through the HAU website at https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/work-with-us/jobs/ where further details of the project can also be found.

Further information can be found on the HAU website at https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/
and on the research training provided and PhD progression requirements in the Postgraduate Research Students Handbook at https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/documents/MPhil-PhD-Handbook.pdf

For informal enquiries on general aspects of research degrees at HAU, applicants may contact Mrs Viv Slann, Postgraduate Research Students Administrator ([Email Address Removed]). For informal enquiries on the project, applicants may contact the Director of Studies, Dr Lucy Crockford, at [Email Address Removed]