PhD fellowship in Soil Fertility phosphorus

PhD fellowship in Soil Fertility phosphorus

The Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN) invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in Soil Fertility. The project is part of the research project “Can microbial phosphorus mobilization be primed? Organic fertiliser effect on biological soil phosphorus cycling (PRIME-P)”, which is financed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Start date is 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Biobased fertilisers (BBF) exist in many forms (sewage sludge, compost, animal manures etc.) with different chemical properties, elemental composition and nutrient concentrations influencing their behaviour upon addition to soil. Unlike mineral phosphate fertilisers, many BBF contain significant amounts of organic phosphorus (P) and calcium phosphate forms, which are not directly available to plants. Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in the mineralization of organic P and the solubilisation of inorganic P, making microbial-driven soil P transformations essential for plant P availability when using BBF.

Because of the relatively large carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents of BBF, soil organic matter may be signicantly modified, thereby affecting soil microbial activity. The objective of the PhD project is to determine how additions of different BBF affect soil organic matter over time and influence microbial P mobilisation. The main research questions are:
1) Do different forms of OM affect microbial P mobilization?
2) Do the different OM fractions have the similar levels of P mineralization?
3) How do soil properties influence microbially mediated P cycling?

To address these questions, activities will include soil characterization in relation to P availability, soil organic matter fractionation upon recent and historical BBF additions, soil incubation studies to investigate microbial P processing (using isotopic techniques (33P and 18O enriched water) and measurements of enzymatic actvity), investigation of microscale mechanisms using advanced imaging techniques and potentially implementation of a soil-plant model in collaboration with another team member.

We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of soil biogeochemistry, plant nutrition or a closely related discipline, with interest in fundamental and applied aspects of soil science and plant nutrition. We are seeking a motivated and ambitious individual with strong interpersonal and communication skills, as well as excellent spoken and written English. We encourage applications from candidates with a combination of the following or closely related competences:

• strong knowledge of, and interest in, soil biogeochemistry processes, with special emphasis on phosphorus and soil organic matter dynamics.
• excellent experimental experience in laboratory work, including soil sampling and analyses, soil organic matter fractionation, use of isotopic techniques etc.
• ability to translate theoretical scientific questions into practical experimental designs and measurements
• ability to analyse and interpret complex datasets.
• ability to work independently and take initiative, strong hands‑on problem‑solving skills, and the capacity to acquire new skills.

We recognize that research shows that women and other underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. If you are excited about this position and believe you can contribute, we strongly encourage you to apply, even if your experience does not perfectly match every qualification listed. We value curiosity, motivation, and the potential and willingness to learn.

The successful candidate will be anchored in the Soil Fertility and Nutrient Recyling group within the Plant and Soil section of the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).). The group is located at the Frederiksberg campus. Our research group addresses soil fertility challenges in sustainable agriculture, with a particular focus on nutrient recycling from organic waste…