Modelling the potential of agro-ecological agricultural systems to deliver water quality and multiple ecosystem benefits under global change. PhD position within Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network “BEYOND”
James Hutton Institute
Homepage: https://www.hutton.ac.uk/department/environmental-and-biochemical-sciences/
This fully funded PhD position is available under the recently launched Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Networks (DN) project “BEYOND” Beyond the current: Improving European flowing waters in an era of global change. BEYOND will train the next generation of water professionals who will deliver scientific and technological innovation across disciplines, institutions and countries needed to solve European water quality problems in an era of global change.
Integrated agroecological management is seen as a potential solution to degrading agroecosystems. However, its impacts on water quality are still poorly understood, despite agroecology focus on whole-system approaches that reduce reliance on external inputs and could potentially reduce water pollution. The aim of this project is to examine whether and how systemic change in agronomic practices and spatial targeting of measures could scale-up to allow the protection of water quality under future climate and socio-economic scenarios. Specifically, the PhD will:
Investigate the potential of agro-ecological agricultural practices to mitigate diffuse pollution from nutrients, sediments and other contaminants to deliver multiple ecosystem services (clean water availability, carbon stewardship, biodiversity conservation)
Investigate the potential of systemic change in agronomic practice to deliver resilient water quality and water resources under future hydrological extremes
Quantify the scale and targeting of interventions required for mitigation and adaptation to these impacts across a climatic gradient
This PhD will provide excellent multi-disciplinary training in catchment science (hydrology, water quality, soil science, agronomy) and system-based modelling, with an opportunity for limited field data collection and engagement with stakeholders in the farming sector.
The Doctoral Candidate will have an opportunity to take part in short visits and secondments to the world leading Agricultural Research Program in Ireland, Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and CARBERY food producer in Ireland for additional training and knowledge exchange.
The project will be supervised by by Dr Miriam Glendell and Dr Cathy Hawes from the James Hutton Institute and Prof. Phil Jordan at the University of Ulster, UK.The student will have access to additional support from Dr Nicholas Schurch from Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, Dr Leah-Jackson Blake at NIVA in Norway and Dr Per-Erik Mellander from Teagasc in Ireland. You will be based in the Environmental and Biochemical Sciences Department (https://www.hutton.ac.uk/department/environmental-and-biochemical-scien…) located in Aberdeen, Scotland.
More information on BEYOND project and PhD selection process can be found at the following websites: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101169293 and https://www.slu.se/beyond
Website
https://hutton.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/3743104?cid=2065
The applicants must fill out the BEYOND application form following the URL below
forms.gle/rKrwomLcZr7Dwm9L9
The applicants are encouraged to apply for up to three different BEYOND PhD positions, but please note that you have to apply for them separately via relevant institutional websites. Please check the details at https://www.slu.se/beyond