Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

Homepage: https://www.atu.ie/

Two Funded PhD Opportunities

AIMINGPEAT Research Project: “Advanced Integrated Measurements and Modelling Approaches for Predicting Carbon Emissions and Removals from Irish Peatlands”

Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Faculty of Science, Department of Environmental Sciences, Sligo, Ireland

Duration: 4 years

AIMINGPEAT Research Project Background and Description

Peatlands are significant carbon ( C ) reservoirs, with their C sink strength influenced by multiple factors. Despite historical losses, Ireland still possesses substantial peat resources but lacks a comprehensive system for accurately accounting for peatland emissions. Peatland ecosystems are crucial for national and international climate mitigation goals, especially in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 through restoration. The AIMINGPEAT project aims to improve carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) emission/removal reporting for Irish peatlands and identify effective management interventions, focusing on the main drivers of GHG dynamics, especially in degraded and rehabilitated peatlands. The research under the AIMINGPEAT project further strives to introduce a comprehensive modelling framework encapsulating statistical/empirical and/or hybrid/coupled modelling approaches/tasks to using the biogeochemical process-based models. Modelling C exchange in rehabilitated/restored peatlands can be challenging due to their unique conditions and heterogeneous nature, and advanced modelling approaches are needed to address these challenges. While some country-specific emission factors have been incorporated into recent national inventory reporting (NIR), default Tier 1 emission factors are still used in the absence of specific data. The research under AIMINGPEAT project aims to tackle these gaps and has been designed to consider both CO₂ and CH₄ emissions/removals. The research focuses on improving current national inventory reporting (NIR) for CO₂ and CH₄, assisting climate neutrality assessment. The project further strives to establish links between analysing GHG emissions/removals at various scales, producing outputs that advance the state-of-the-art and support knowledge transfer to the scientific community and beyond.

Main Objectives:

• Improve Ireland’s GHG emissions/removals assessment for peatlands, including both CH₄ and CO₂, using a comprehensive modelling framework.
• Identify key drivers of GHG emissions/removals in Irish peatlands to inform management interventions for climate mitigation.
• Develop and apply advanced integrated modelling approaches to enhance NIR reporting for CO₂ and CH₄, aiding climate neutrality assessment.
• Enhance understanding of Irish peatlands, especially degraded and rehabilitated ones, to support restoration, ecosystem services, and resilience.
• Engage stakeholders to improve CO₂ and CH₄ NIR methodologies and maximize peatlands’ climate mitigation potential, drawing inspiration from climate futures projects.
• Evaluate Irish peatlands’ role as a C sink to develop measures, scenarios, and strategies for future climate mitigation and neutrality, including short-term actions and long-term milestones.
• Establish/recommend advanced measuring and modelling approaches to improve NIR, monitor progress towards climate neutrality, and evaluate peatland climate mitigation potential over time.

Two Funded PhD Opportunities:

Under the AIMINGPEAT research project, applications are invited for two separate funded PhD research opportunities on integrated measurements and modelling approaches for predicting C emissions and removals from Irish peatlands:

• PhD Opportunity 1, with main focus on CO₂ emissions and removals and
• PhD Opportunity 2, with main focus on CH₄ emissions and removals.

Each of the two PhD positions provides coverage of EU University fees and a stipend of €25,000 per annum for four years.
The two PhDs will be conducted under the supervision of Dr. Alina Premrov (alina.premrov@atu.ie) at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Faculty of Science, Department of Environmental Science, Sligo, Ireland, in close collaboration with Dr. Matthew Saunders (saundem@tcd.ie), Trinity College Dublin, School of Natural Sciences, Botany Discipline, Plant Ecophysiology Research Group, Dublin, Ireland. At later stages, the project will also work closely with Dr. Jagadeesh Yeluripati (Jagadeesh.Yeluripati@hutton.ac.uk), The James Hutton Institute, Information and Computational Sciences Department, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.

Expected Start Date: No later than September 2025, earlier preferred.

Candidate Requirements:

• Applications are invited from graduates holding a first or 2.1 class honours degree or M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences, Soil Science, Plant Biology/Botany, Agricultural Science, Atmospheric Physics, Biochemistry, Physical Geography, Biogeochemistry or related discipline.
• Candidates should be highly interested in interdisciplinary research approaches and enjoying data-handling and data-analyses, extensive environmental modelling, including statistical/empirical, process-based, and coupled/hybrid modelling approaches. Applications are sought from candidates with knowledge of data-handling and analysis, basic software and R programming language for statistical computing and graphics (The R Foundation for Statistical Computing). Knowledge of other programming languages, such as Python is desirable. Research experience in handling large datasets, statistical analyses, environmental modelling, GIS, remote sensing and related disciplines would be a distinct advantage.
• Candidates should exhibit skills in writing reports, preparing scientific journal publications, delivering presentations, working both independently and in a team, and being highly self-motivated. Fluency in English is essential, and candidates whose first language is not English need to meet ATU’s minimum English language requirements (https://www.atu.ie/study/international/english-language-requirements).

Funding Notes: AIMINGPEAT research project is funded under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030 (Project Ref. 2024-CE-1289). The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

Application Procedure:

Interested applicants should submit their application, within a single PDF document, consisting of a CV with educational background, transcripts of degree results, list of publications and conference presentations, a short (1–2 page) letter of motivation, and names and contact details of 2 referees, directly to Dr. Alina Premrov alina.premrov@atu.ie. The motivation letter should clearly state how the applicant’s research interests and skills relate to the research project outlined above. Please specify which of the two PhD opportunities you are applying for, or indicate if you wish to be considered for both, noting that only one can be pursued if selected. Please ensure that all required documents are included and that your application is complete before submission.
By submitting their application as outlined above, applicants consent to having their application documents forwarded to and evaluated by the selection committee.
Please only apply if you are eligible for EU fees.
Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr. Alina Premrov alina.premrov@atu.ie.
ATU is committed to embedding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) – https://www.atu.ie/about/equality-diversity-and-inclusion.

Application Deadline: 3rd June 2025. Early application is strongly recommended.