PhD Student

Job description

The research group of Prof. Steven Sleutel (UGhent) is looking for a motivated collaborator to perform a PhD research on mitigation of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Flemish agricultural soils.

Greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soils represent 15% of the total greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. These soil emissions, mainly nitrous oxide (N2O), account for 72% of total nitrous oxide emissions within agriculture. Applied fertilizer, animal manure and crop residues are the main sources of this. Fertilizer application also contributes to NH3 emissions and represents 28% of NH3 emissions within agriculture. The above figures for Flanders are estimates obtained with an internationally established methodology that uses emission figures that are, however, not tailored to the Flemish situation. The representativeness of these figures for our region can hardly be verified due to a lack of measurements of soil emissions within Flemish agriculture. This lack of measurements also means that there is currently little insight into the extent of the various sources of soil emissions (mineral manure, animal manure and crop residues). Farmers also need concrete mitigation measures, for example through adapted fertilization strategies (e.g. fractionation, controlled release fertilizers, nitrification inhibitors, acidification of manure) that provide higher efficiency of nitrogen (N) availability in the soil. However, there are currently no validated measures or (fertilization) strategies whose potential to reduce soil emissions has been demonstrated for Flanders.

With the new comprehensive VLAIO LA project LILA (Limiting Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions: Innovative mitigation measures for Flemish agriculture and development of regional emission factors) jointly implemented by ILVO-Plant, Dept Environment UGent, and Innovatiesteunpunt we want to improve the knowledge around soil N2O emissions for the Flemish context. This information is essential to provide farmers with measures to reduce nitrous oxide emissions without stimulating unwanted NH3 or CH4 emissions. With LILA we are also investigating the effect of carbon farming practices with application of organic manure or incorporation of crop residues on N2O emission trade-offs. This PhD position is embedded in this applied VLAIO project which runs from 11/2024 till 11/2028.

This doctoral research has three main objectives:

1) Conduct and follow up field trials at ILVO (Merelbeke) and PCG (Kruishoutem) to get a better understanding of the magnitude of N2O emissions per major emission source: mineral fertilizer, animal slurry, farmyard manure. From this, refined Flemish emission factors will be established.

2) Research into innovative emission reducing measures to minimize N2O, NH3 and CH4 emissions from mineral fertilizer use with additional field trials. An additional goal here is the development of an accurate and efficient methodology to measure field NH3 emissions.

3) Assessing the impact of carbon farming on N2O emission trade-offs by estimating trade-off effects when applying organic matter. For this we use scenario analysis with a biogeochemical simulation model.

The selected candidate is expected to complete a PhD thesis around this research during the project term (11/24-11/2028). In addition, the candidate will also be partly co-responsible for VLAIO project communication, including reporting at steering committee and user group meetings. The obtained results will also be disseminated more widely through integration in decision and policy support tools and through summary practice sheets and a series of dissemination activities.

Job profile

• You preferably hold a Master's degree in bioengineering, biosciences or equivalent (e.g. earth sciences, environmental sciences)
• You have a strong interest in scientific research related to soil and/or agriculture
• You have the necessary communication skills with a very good knowledge of English both spoken and written (ideally knowledge of Dutch as well)
• You are a creative and committed person with a healthy work ethic and a positive attitude.
  
  

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:

• We offer a full-time doctoral fellowship position consisting of an initial 12-month period, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
• your contract will start on 01/11/2024 to the earliest
• For this project, you will work within a team: in addition to the UGent supervisor, there will be frequent contact with the project coordinator and co-promoter of ILVO and colleagues at Innovation Support Centre. Furthermore, the student will work together with the other PhDs at the research group and with lab and field staff at the Department Environment and ILVO Plant.
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by the Department of Personnel and Organization based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits (in Dutch).

How to apply

To apply - Send your CV, a copy of your master's degree (with your master's scores) and cover letter to steven.sleutel@ugent.be (+32) 09 264 60 55 by 16/10/2024. Do not hesitate to contact us in advance if necessary for further info.