Predoctoral Researcher

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

It is home to the Bio Refine Cluster Europe ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).), a network of international research and development projects with a dedicated focus on guiding innovation towards applied market implementation. As part of an extensive European programme on nutrient recycling, in the frame of Horizon Europe projects GREENHOOD and MARVELA we are recruiting a junior expert for a PhD degree at Ghent University (Belgium).

At least 90% of your assignment will be spent on academic research in preparation of a doctoral dissertation.

Sustainable nutrient management is a key challenge for European agriculture, driven by the need to increase nutrient use efficiency while reducing environmental impacts and complying with evolving EU regulations. While the sector provides essential food and biomass, it is also responsible for approximately 11% of the EU's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) accounting for the majority of these emissions.

These gases primarily originate from livestock production, manure management, fertiliser application, and agricultural soils. Despite the availability of several mitigation strategies, their large-scale implementation remains limited due to uncertainties regarding their effectiveness, a lack of practical monitoring tools, and insufficient farm-level data. Addressing these challenges requires an integrated systems approach that combines accurate monitoring with circular nutrient management and climate-smart farming practices.

This includes optimising livestock feeding to reduce enteric CH4 emissions, recovering nutrients from livestock manure as RENURE fertilisers to partially replace synthetic mineral fertilisers, and applying precision fertilisation technologies to better match nutrient supply with crop demand while minimising nutrient losses. As these innovations are increasingly adopted, there is a growing need for robust, cost-effective monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) tools that accurately quantify non-CO2 GHG emissions and related air pollutants, improve emission reporting, and support evidence-based mitigation strategies.

This PhD project will contribute to the development and validation of such approaches through laboratory and field research, helping to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable, resilient and climate-neutral agricultural sector.

• You are interested in and motivated by the research topic, as well as in obtaining a PhD degree
• You hold a Master’s degree – in applied biological sciences (agriculture, environmental technology, …)
• You have experience in designing and conducting laboratory and/or field experiments related to manure management and agricultural systems.
• You have mastered the English language, both in writing skills and oral presentations
• You have basic knowledge in data analysis using R, Python, MATLAB, or equivalent software
• You have basic knowledge in GIS and digital mapping
• You have the required communicative skills to interact independently with scientific community, business community and farming community

• We offer you a contract of indefinite duration with a maximum term of 4 years.
• Your contract will start on 1/10/2026 at the earliest.
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, a bicycle allowance and eco vouchers.  for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.
• Being embedded in a team of young dynamic experts from academia and industry
• Involvement in a European projects (GREENHOOD and MARVELA) with research partners from all over the EU, with possibility of mobility across partner countries to visit innovative nutrient recovery processes at practical industrial scale
• An innovative and hot-topic research scope with clear practical applications
• Close supervision and guidance in the conducting of the planned research
• The possibility to develop a broad network
• Stimulation to self-improvement by encouraging participation in courses, workshops and conferences
• Career option (to be discussed with the selected candidate based on mobility/travel interests and research opportunities): for short or longer stays at partner organisations (in Europe and/or China) and the possibility to obtain Dual Degree PhD from both…