SA6 A novel Soil Organic Carbon Measurement and Indexing System

Start Date: October 2017
Duration of award: 3.5 years

Supervisors:
Prof Steve McGrath (Rothamsted)
Dr Keith Shepherd (World Agroforestry Centre, ICRAF)
Prof Guy Kirk (Cranfield)

Sponsored by Rothamsted Research and Cranfield University, this studentship will provide a bursary of £17,500 p.a. (tax free) plus fees* plus research consumables for 3.5 years.Please note the eligibility criteria for this studentship has been amended. Residents from UK and EU are now eligible for the FULL funding award.

This project aims to develop a novel Soil Carbon Measurement and Indexing System, which will provide agricultural stakeholders with a rapid and low cost means for measuring and monitoring soil organic carbon (SOC) levels and indexing them relative to those required to maintain essential soil functional properties.

This breakthrough will enable the development of certification and reward schemes for good soil organic management practices. The project will draw on extensive soil archives and accompanying infrared spectral and reference property databases available through Rothamsted Research and Cranfield University in the UK and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Kenya. The student will work with scientists in the UK and Africa, conduct lab and field work with dry spectral methods at Rothamsted, and engage with potential users at farm, government and industry levels.

Soil AgRIA Doctoral Training Centre The studentship is one of seven in Soil Technology Innovation being funded by Rothamsted Research and Cranfield University as part of a new Agricultural Research and Innovation Accelerator (AgRIA) based at Rothamsted. The Soil AgRIA has been established to accelerate applications of science and engineering advances to soil technology development, to tackle widely-acknowledged constraints to soil and land management, both nationally and globally. The aim is to accelerate innovation by bringing together engineers, information technologists, natural scientists and soil scientists with business. Students will be co-supervised by Rothamsted and Cranfield scientists and will also be embedded in a multidisciplinary innovation accelerator, advised by a think tank of industrial stakeholders. The degree programme will include training in innovative thinking and entrepreneurial skills, as well as the more-standard Cranfield and Rothamsted doctoral programmes. Students will be registered at Cranfield and will have social and networking opportunities within the Cranfield and Rothamsted wider research communities.

Entry requirements
Applicants should hold a minimum of a UK Honours Degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in subjects such as a Natural Science, Environmental Science or Engineering. A full driving licence and fluency in English is also required.

How to apply
For further information please contact: Steve McGrath, [Email Address Removed]

If you are eligible to apply for this research studentship, please follow the Apply Online button below to download the application form and send this form together with a CV to Guy Kirk, [Email Address Removed]