PhD in Carbon and Nutrient Transport and Turnover In and Around a Lake in Response to Restoring the Natural Hydrology

A 3-year PhD position is available at the Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark. The start date is September 1, 2024. 

Project area
Denmark is known for its widespread agricultural land use, to such an extent that Denmark is the country in the EU with the highest share of agricultural land use compared to land mass. Around 64 % of the Danish land use is being utilized for agricultural purposes, which is heavily drained and extensively managed altering the natural hydrology. The drainage has caused increased decomposition rates, as soils are now exposed to oxygen. Over several decades, the soil has experienced higher decomposition rates leading to soil compaction, combined with increased precipitation resulting in water-saturated or flooded soils. These soils pose a serious challenge, as they are large emitters of greenhouse gas to the atmosphere, both due to their large organic and nutrient content caused by manure-spreading, but also due to changes in oxygen availability, causing large parts of the sedimented organic carbon to be decomposed during dry periods. Furthermore, the nutrient and carbon are often transported to an end-recipient, in this case, a lake, thus measurements of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon and nutrient stock are also considered. 

This PhD program aims to determine greenhouse gas and carbon and nutrient transport and turnover in and around a lake as the natural hydrology is restored, thereby contributing to the understanding of what regulates greenhouse gas emission (CO₂, CH_4, and N₂O) and carbon and nutrient burial within drained areas and, the end-recipient, a lake.

The PhD scholarship covers the area of aquatic ecology, biogeochemistry, and modeling and will be aligned with ongoing research at the Freshwater Ecology group at the Institute of Biology at the University of Southern Denmark. The fellowship will be part of a group working with phosphorous and carbon turnover and greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands, streams, and lakes. 

The PhD candidate will be appointed to the Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark with a main supervisor Theis Kragh ([email protected]) and co-supervisor Kaj Sand-Jensen (University of Copenhagen). 

Qualifications
We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious candidate with an MSc degree in biology. The position is open to both Danish and international applicants. Experience with biogeochemistry or freshwater ecology, laboratory work, and good English language skills will be required. The main criterion for selection will be the research potential of the applicant; i.e. publications will be a strong asset. A driver’s license is needed.

Application deadline: 6 May 2024 at 23:59 hours local Danish time