Urbanisation and heavy metal pollution in a warmer world

Requirements:
The candidate should have a first class or upper second class honours degree, or a master’s degree (or equivalent qualification), in …Ecology, Physical Geography, Environmental Science or a similar subject discipline. Familiarity with spatial analysis as applied in ecological studies and soil techniques will be considered advantageous. Evidence of good spoken and written English is essential. The candidate should have an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, or an equivalent qualification, if the first language is not English. This position is open to all qualified candidates irrespective of nationality.

Degree:
The student will be awarded a PhD degree from the University of Liverpool (UK) upon successful completion of the program.

Funding:
The PhD studentship is available for three years subject to satisfactory progress by the student. The award covers tuition fees for three years (currently equivalent to RMB 80,000 per annum) and provides a monthly stipend of 3500 RMB as a contribution to living expenses. It also provides up to RMB 16,500 to allow participation at international conferences during the period of the award. It is a condition of the award that holders of XJTLU PhD scholarships carry out 300-500 hours of teaching assistance work per year. The scholarship holder is expected to carry out the major part of his or her research at XJTLU in Suzhou, China. However, he or she is eligible for a research study visit to the University of Liverpool of up to three months, if this is required by the project.

Project Description:
Urbanisation and climate change are key global environmental change drivers whose interaction modifies a number of ecosystem services.

In this PhD project, the successful student with supervision support will explore the interactive effects of pollution of soil by heavy metals and global warming on soil carbon (C) fluxes and other soil properties across a selected urbanisation gradient in the urban area of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province in China.

The project’s aims include determining whether soil C variation can be explained by distinctive urban land cover/uses (LUCC’s) and their interaction with soil heavy metals. Additionally, a related aim is to understand whether soil heavy metals’ spatial structure at different scales across such LUCC’s can provide indication on potential sources.

Intensive field measurement campaign as well as experiments under controlled conditions will be used as experimental approaches. Additionally, the successful candidate will dedicate time for completion of analytical techniques in the College of Environmental and Natural Resources Sciences in Zhejiang University. The successful student is expected to present results in relevant conferences as well as report them in the relevant scientific literature

For more information about doctoral scholarship and PhD programme at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU): Please visit
http://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/admissions/phd.html

http://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/admissions/phd/feesscholarships.html

How to Apply:
Interested applicants are advised to email [Email Address Removed]
(principle supervisor’s email address) the following documents and copy [Email Address Removed] (please put the project title in the subject line).
• CV
• Two reference letters
• Personal statement outlining your interest in the position
• Proof of English language proficiency (an IELTS score of above 6.5 or equivalent is required
• Verified school transcripts in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
• Verified certificates of education qualifications in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr. Eduardo Medina-Roldán ([Email Address Removed]
), whose personal profile is linked below,
http://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/departments/academic-departments/environmental-science/staff/eduardo-medina-rold-xe1-n