Funded PhD Opportunity - Predicting CO2 Emissions and Removals from Irish Peatlands - AIMINGPEAT Research Project (PhD opportunity with strong focus on modelling)
Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Ireland
Homepage: https://www.atu.ie/
Climate: Past, Present & Future (CL)
Soil System Sciences (SSS)
Funded PhD Opportunity
AIMINGPEAT Research Project: "Advanced Integrated Measurements and Modelling Approaches for Predicting Carbon Emissions and Removals from Irish Peatlands"
- PhD opportunity with strong focus on modelling -
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 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 CO2 and CH4, 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.
Funded PhD Opportunity:
Under the AIMINGPEAT research project, applications are invited for one funded PhD research opportunity on integrated measurements and modelling approaches for predicting C emissions and removals from Irish peatlands with main focus on predicting CO2 emissions and removals.
The PhD position provides coverage of EU University fees and a stipend of €25,000 per annum for no longer than four years.
PhD 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: Late 2025 / Early 2026, 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/processing and statistical analyses , 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, 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 minimum 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 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.
Applications are welcomed from EU / EEA / UK applicants.
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 & Expected Start : Applications by 23/11/2025 are preferred (or until filled, with formal starting date no later than early 2026). Early application is strongly recommended.