PhD Project Title: Hydrological and sediment impacts of forestry operations in Ireland (HydroSED)
Funding Agency: Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM)
Description: An exciting opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified and strongly motivated graduate to undertake a PhD in University College Dublin (UCD) as part of a large-scale interdisciplinary 3-year research project “Hydrological and sediment impacts of forestry operations in Ireland” funded by the Irish Government’s Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. This project is collaborative and involves research teams in UCD (Schools of Civil Engineering, Biology and Environmental Science, Agriculture and Food Science and Geography) and Munster Technological University (School of Building & Civil Engineering) and also involves Coillte and Green Belt Ltd.
Forestry presents pressures to the ecological status of watercourses, with sediment release being a recognised stressor. This field-based project will measure hydromorphological change and sediment release at seven forestry sites with adjacent or nearby lotic waterbodies. Study sites will reflect a range of soils, topographical and hydrological settings relevant to Irish forestry and the monitoring strategy will specifically target a range of forestry operations (afforestation, harvesting, windrowing and reforestation). Data for establishing levels of deposited sediment in riverbeds and changes in hydromorphology and aquatic community health will be collected. Sediment fingerprinting will be used to disentangle forestry operation impacts on suspended and deposited fine sediments from other catchment pressures.
Proposal
The PhD study will require the successful student to:
- Contribute to selection of study sites (with wider project team);
- Prepare a state-of-art review of academic literature relevant to the field of study;
- Quantify deposited fine sediment levels in forested river reaches through extensive field investigation;
- Assess hydromorphological condition of forested sites and compare these with non-forested sites;
- Apply multi-parameter sediment source fingerprinting to investigate sediment provenance and relative contribution from forestry operations;
- Evaluate ecological conditions at study sites and the potential for impact on Water Framework Directive (WFD) status;
- Publish/ present research findings in academic journals and at national and international academic conferences;
- Engage with other project activities as deemed appropriate by Supervisors.
Requirements/Qualifications: The successful candidate will hold a 2.1 or first class honours degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Physical Geography or a related discipline. A Masters degree in Environmental Science or in a related area may also be suitable. The successful candidate will also have knowledge of freshwater ecology.
The candidate must be highly motivated and capable of working both independently and within a team. Strong numerical and analytical skills are essential as is an ability to communicate scientific research findings. Experience in laboratory investigations and field measurements are desirable – the successful candidate will be required to design and play a lead-role in an extensive programme of field data collection over a 3-year period, which will involve working in inclement conditions. A full, clean driving license is also required.
Project Duration: 36 months
Conditions: €18,000 Stipend per annum
Postgraduate fees for EU students will be covered by the project.
In addition, any necessary travel and material costs incurred during the project will be covered.
Please Note: Candidates from outside the EU are eligible to apply, but will be expected to provide evidence of sources of additional funds to cover excesses associated with Non-EU fees.
If English is not the applicant’s first language, a certificate of English language ability is required. For IELTS, an average score of 6.5 over all components and a minimum of 6.0 in each band on the Academic Version is required. Scores deemed to be comparable under different tests will be considered.
Proposed Start Date: May 2022
Application Closing Date: 4pm on Friday 18th March 2022
Applicants should submit their Curriculum Vitae (with names of 2 referees), together with a personal statement explaining (1) how you meet the requirements of the position and; (ii) why you would like to pursue a PhD Research Programme, to Assoc. Prof. Mary Kelly Quinn ((opens in a new window)mary.kelly-quinn@ucd.ie) and simultaneously to Dr Jonathan Turner, UCD School of Geography ((opens in a new window)jonathan.turner@ucd.ie)
For further information on the project please contact:
Assoc. Prof. Mary Kelly Quinn, UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science ((opens in a new window)mary.kelly-quinn@ucd.ie)
Dr Jonathan Turner, UCD School of Geography ((opens in a new window)jonathan.turner@ucd.ie)
Funded PhD Studentships
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for two full-time PhDs (Structured PhD
programme) in Biology and Environmental Science as part of a larger project on Irish Blue Carbon
ecosystems (‘BlueC’) funded by the Marine Institute. We seek to recruit two motivated early-stage
researchers with a keen interest in saltmarsh ecology and biogeochemistry.
The PhD positions will be based in the School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University College Dublin for 48 months and will contribute to the multi-institutional Blue Carbon (‘BlueC’) project in collaboration with University of Galway and University College Cork.
Anticipated start date: 1 September 2023.
Blue Carbon background, and intro to wider project Ocean and coastal marine systems play a significant role in the global carbon cycle, representing the largest long-term sink of carbon. Two Blue Carbon habitats occur in Ireland’s coastal ecosystems; saltmarshes and seagrass meadows. Specifically for Ireland, there is a paucity of data on the carbon storage capacity of these ecosystems, and a lack of coherent management strategies hampers the ability to integrate these ecosystems into climate policy frameworks. The BlueC project addresses carbon dynamics in Irish coastal and marine environments, whilst simultaneously improving management and harnessing their potential for climate mitigation, adaptation and other ecosystem services to underpin policy development.
PhD Project 1 will focus on quantifying lateral fluxes of dissolved carbon in marsh porewater and
tidal waters. Saltmarshes are in constant exchange with the ocean through tides, waves and currents,
which drives the export or import of nutrients and carbon into or out of these systems. This PhD
project will focus on quantifying particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC)
and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) from a range of saltmarsh sites that differ in substrate and
morphology. Time series observations of the key flux parameters will be carried out by sampling tidal
creeks that dissect the marsh platforms in addition to sampling marsh porewater.
PhD Project 2 will contribute to the establishment of a long-term monitoring site and will focus on
experimental manipulation of climate change factors, namely establishing a passive warming
experiment. Latitudinal gradient studies suggest that warming will increase both tidal wetland
productivity and decomposition, with the net effect of enhancing carbon storage initially. This project
will investigate changes in productivity, decomposition, and elevation in response to warming in both
saltmarsh habitat and intertidal seagrass habitat.
The successful candidates will undertake extensive fieldwork in remote saltmarshes across Ireland,
employ a wide range of field and lab-based techniques, assist with the set-up of a long-term
monitoring site, and interact with the wider project team, whereby some travel to partner
laboratories (Galway/Cork) may be required.
Requirements
Applicants should have a good primary degree (First or Second Class Honours) in an appropriate
discipline (Environmental Science/Biology, Botany/Plant Science, Ecology, Marine Biogeochemistry).
The successful candidates should be highly self-motivated and have some background and particular
interest in saltmarsh biology, biogeochemistry and ecology. In addition to a relevant degree(s), the
successful candidates will ideally have some additional research experience (e.g. MSc) in
marine/coastal fieldwork, analysis of water quality, blue carbon methodologies, habitat mapping and
GIS. The successful candidates will be very strong communicators. In addition, a driving licence valid
in Ireland is essential to access remote field sites.
Award
The successful candidates will be enrolled for a 48-month Structured PhD programme
(https://www.ucd.ie/graduatestudies/)
Stipend: The student will receive a tax-free stipend of €18,500 per year, full coverage of tuition fees
(both EU and non-EU) and funds for conference travel.
Equality and diversity: UCD is committed to creating an environment where diversity is celebrated and
everyone is treated fairly regardless of gender, age, race, disability, ethnic origin, religion, sexual
orientation, civil status, family status, or membership of the travelling community
(https://www.ucd.ie/equality/). Applications from all suitably qualified candidates will be considered.
Informal enquiries are welcome and should be made to Dr Grace Cott (grace.cott@ucd.ie).
To apply please e-mail grace.cott@ucd.ie by 14th July, 2023 a single pdf document with a detailed
curriculum vitae describing any previous research experience, a cover letter detailing your research
interests and goals, and the contact details (e-mail and phone number) of at least two academic
referees. Please indicate whether you are applying for PhD Project 1 or 2 or would like to be
considered for both.