Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Ireland

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

Funded PhD Opportunity - Predicting CO₂ Emissions and Removals from Irish Peatlands

* PhD opportunity with strong focus on modelling. *

Background Information

This PhD opportunity is offered as part of the wider AIMINGPEAT Research Project, titled “Advanced Integrated Measurements and Modelling Approaches for Predicting Carbon Emissions and Removals from Irish Peatlands.”

Peatlands are significant carbon (C) reservoirs, and their capacity to act as C sinks is influenced by multiple environmental and management factors. The AIMINGPEAT project aims to improve C emission and removal reporting for Irish peatlands and to identify effective management interventions by focusing on the key drivers of greenhouse gas (GHG) dynamics, particularly in degraded and rehabilitated sites. A core element of the project is the development of a comprehensive modelling framework that integrates statistical/empirical methods with hybrid or coupled approaches, including biogeochemical process-based models. Modelling carbon exchange in rehabilitated or restored peatlands is challenging due to their heterogeneous conditions, and advanced modelling approaches are required to adequately capture this complexity. Although some country-specific emission factors have been incorporated into recent National Inventory Reports (NIR), default Tier 1 emission factors are still used where specific datasets are lacking. AIMINGPEAT seeks to address these data and methodological gaps.

This PhD project primarily focuses on improving Irish national inventory reporting for peatland carbon dioxide (CO₂), 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 (CO₂) emissions/removals assessment for peatlands, using a comprehensive modelling framework.
• Identify key drivers of GHG (CO₂) 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, 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 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:

Applications are welcomed from EU / EEA / UK applicants. Under the wider AIMINGPEAT Research Project, the 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 - preferably no later than September 2026, or earlier if possible.

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 terrestrial ecosystems and 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 EU / EEA / UK candidates whose first language is not English need to meet ATU’s minimum English language requirements (https://www.atu.ie/study/global/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 three referees , directly to Dr. Alina Premrov alina.premrov@atu.ie. Applicants should clearly indicate which two referees out of three should be prioritised for contact. 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. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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.
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: 15th May 2026 (or 15th June 2026 until filled), earlier applications are preferred.