About the Project
May Barn Consultancy
3 Year Enterprise-led Funded PhD: Ref. No. 65
The production of salad leaf products using LED lighting in intensive hydroponic systems is on the rise. Multi-level, hydroponic plant production units are potentially more water, nutrient and energy use efficient, compared with outdoor or glasshouse production systems.
Optimization of this technology is required for the technique to reach its full potential. In particular, it is highly important to ensure that the vitamin and phytonutrient content of the hydroponic products match those grown in natural light conditions under polythene tunnels or in glasshouses.
Manipulation of the light environment, to produce high levels of phytonutrients in hydroponics would permit food production in unusual spaces (i.e redundant buildings, shipping containers) reducing pressure on limited agricultural land. At the same time, hydroponics can optimize energy inputs and, potentially, reduce losses from disease.
Thus, this project aims to use photobiology to establish a large scale, hydroponic system to produce high quality and nutritious salad herbs in a sustainable manner.
This important project will help to improve consumer acceptance of such products grown inside sealed production buildings or in unusual spaces, such as redundant buildings or converted shipping containers.
Applicants should have a first or upper second degree in biology, biochemistry or related subjects.
Enterprise and Collaborative Partners
The PhD is a collaborative research project between Lancaster University with supervision by Dr Gabriela Toledo-Ortiz and Dr Paul Challinor of May Barn Consultancy Ltd. May Barn Consultancy Ltd offers a unique combination of experience in agronomy, horticultural crop production and technical management.
With over 30 years of experience in the UK Horticultural Industry May Barn Consultancy Ltd has recently been supporting businesses with work focusing on intensive, hydroponic and organic crop production techniques, nutrient film technique, coir, rockwool, pumice and clinoptilolite zeolite.
Why Apply?
By joining the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation you will:
• Receive £15,000 tax free per year
• Have your postgraduate tuition fees paid for by your partner business, worth c£4,195/year (fees for Non EU/UK graduates are subsidised from £17,510/year to £13,315/year.) See university website for published rates by year of entry)
• Become part of a cohort of graduates working with an award-winning team on business-led R&D
• Finish in a strong position to enter a competitive job market in the UK and overseas.
The post is subject to confirmation of funding.
Application Deadline
13th August 2017
Provisional Interview Date: 24th August 2017
Start Date: September/October 2017
Application details
To apply for this opportunity please email [Email Address Removed] with:
• CV (max 2 pages)
• PhD Application Form (http://bit.ly/cgephdap)
• Application Criteria Document (http://bit.ly/cgephdapcr)
• Funded PhD Reference Form (http://bit.ly/cgephdref)
Please state the project reference number (65) in your email subject.
The Centre for Global Eco-Innovation
This doctoral research project is one of a cohort of industry-led funded research projects from the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation, an international alliance supporting university-business collaboration. The Centre delivers high quality, business-led research to create eco-innovative technologies, products and services.
At the heart of the Centre are people who are researching, developing and innovating to address global challenges, including energy, water, natural capital, resource efficiency, food, and waste, to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits. Launched in 2012 the Centre and has won two national awards for its ground breaking approach to sustainable R&D and knowledge exchange.
www.globalecoinnovation.org
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