PhD studentship: Improving carbon uptake in soils by designing “carbon fertilisers”: computational and experimental study

Applications are invited for a joint computational and experimental PhD studentship, which focusses on improving carbon uptake in soils by designing organic molecules that bind strongly to minerals typically found in soil.

This is a 4-year studentship at the University of Sheffield (Departments of Chemistry and Geography), as a part of the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures training programme. It is fully funded for Home/EU or international students, starting in October 2017. Details and application form are available on the Grantham Centre website: http://grantham.sheffield.ac.uk/training/opportunities/martsinovich/ The application deadline is 21 February 2017.

Details:

Soils contain large amounts of organic matter (also called “soil organic carbon”). Carbon in soil is important for capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, for growing crops, and more broadly for maintaining the stability of soils. However, carbon is being lost from soils because of the increase in intensive agriculture. It is therefore essential to keep replenishing the carbon content, similar to the addition of fertilisers to increase nutrients in soil.

The aim of this project is to identify carbon-based molecular structures that bind most strongly to oxide minerals in soil. These molecules will be the most likely candidates for “carbon fertilisers”.

You will use a combination of measurements (surface-sensitive spectroscopy) and theoretical calculations (density-functional theory) to study the binding of a variety of organic molecules to typical minerals found in soil, such as iron oxides. The aim is to identify naturally abundant molecules that bind strongly to minerals – the candidates for good carbon uptake and storage in soil.

This project is a part of the training programme by the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures. In addition to research work, you will participate in the Grantham Scholars PhD training activities, which have been designed to help you develop awareness of sustainability and learn to engage with the media, industry and policy-makers to promote sustainability and environment matters.

Supervisors: Dr Natalia Martsinovich (Department of Chemistry – computational) and Dr María Romero-González (Department of Geography – experimental). For more information about the project, please contact Dr Martsinovich ([email protected]).

Entry requirements: The candidate should have a good degree in Chemistry, Materials Science or a related subject. Knowledge of Chemistry is essential; experience of computational modelling is desirable.

To apply on-line go to http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply/applying. Please note: Your application should be accompanied by a CV and a 200 word supporting statement.  Your statement should outline your aspirations and motivation for studying in the Grantham Centre, outlining any relevant experience. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 21st February 2017.