EMS and STARS doctoral research programme join up and fund PhD project

EMS have teamed up with the STARS (Soils Training and Research Studentships) doctoral research programme to co-fund a PhD project based on analysing soil macronutrients which is based at the James Hutton Institute at Lancaster University.

Funded by NERC and BBSRC (The Natural Environment and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Councils), the STARS Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) is an exciting consortium of 8 organizations, comprising 4 universities and 4 research institutes from around England, Scotland and Wales who are collaborating to offer training to PhD students in soil science. PhD student, Andy Tweedie, will be working with Prof Phil Haygarth of Lancaster University and Dr Marc Stutter of the James Hutton Institute alongside EMS on the project entitled ‘Soil macronutrients cycles beneath our feet: how soil carbon and nitrogen manipulation regulates phosphorous cycling for environmental benefits’.

This PhD will involve designing and executing a series of soil mesocosm experiments across transects with varying inputs of Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P). An important component in this project will be the use of in-situ sensors in combination with traditional methods of soil analysis.

The main aim of this PhD project is to produce a predictive model of P fate based on inputs of C and N to a system.

Andy has a fantastic academic background, with a BSc in ‘Biotechnology in Agriculture’ from the University of Nottingham and an MSc in ‘Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, Diversity and Conservation’ which was based at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Queen Mary University of London. He also has a strong, diverse work experience involving engineering and animal science.

We are looking forward to seeing the progression of this project and wish Andy lots of luck in his work!