PhD Project on the carbon footprint of energy crops

Background

The UK has committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to at least 80% of 1990 values, by the year 2050. The use of biomass crops to produce energy, such as liquid fuels (biofuel) and heat and power (bioenergy), can off-set carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through a reduced demand for fossil fuel combustion. Using dedicated energy crops (short rotation coppice trees and Miscanthus) to provide the feedstock may also contribute to CO2 mitigation by long term sequestering of carbon in the soil. However, depending on prior land use, large uncertainties exist as to the carbon offsetting benefit of such bioenergy crops.

The PhD project

The PhD project aims to address these uncertainties by measuring the carbon captured and sequestered in biomass and soil by a large commercial willow plantation. This will be done using the eddy covariance technique alongside yield inventories, soil analysis and measurements of photosynthesis and respiration. In collaboration with the Carbo-BioCrop project (www.carbo-biocrop.ac.uk/) this field experiment will provide the mechanistic data required to parameterise computer models of coppice tree growth. In addition the data collected in the field will form part of a larger database to enable the carbon mitigation potential of bioenergy crops to be calculated using a 'life cycle analysis' approach.

The candidate

The successful candidate will help to establish and run the experiment for eddy covariance measurements as well as sampling and taking insitu ecophysiological measurements in the field, on a working farm in Nottinghamshire. The candidate will be supported by a technician and post-doc and work in collaboration with groups in Italy and the USA. Away from the field the aim is to carry out data and laboratory analysis as well as literature searches to help compile a life cycle analysis of bioenergy crops. In return the candidate will join a large consortium-based project with several groups working together to address the GHG balance of bioenergy crops. The ideal candidate should be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person with good organisational, interpersonal skills and problem solving abilities and field work experience. He/She should have a good first / 2.1 degree and potentially a Masters in a related subject, such as Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology or similar. Experience of equipment and techniques used in eddy covariance will be an advantage, but training is available.

The candidate will join an active group of researchers under the supervision of Professor Gail Taylor and Dr Matthew Tallis and in addition, will be part of a large consortium with a long-term interest in bioenergy crop science, through our work on TSEC-BIOSYS and now Carbo-BioCrop and in a new European project, EUROCHAR. The research will involve collaboration with scientists in Italy and USA and significant travel is anticipated.

Supervisors
The lead supervisor will be Professor Gail Taylor (University of Southampton) co-supervisor will be Dr. Matthew Tallis (University of Southampton)

Please send a brief CV to Dr Matthew Tallis (m.j.tallis@soton.ac.uk), stating why you wish to be considered for this PhD.

Start date: ASAP

End date: 36 month project

Funding: A UK-based source of funding

Eligibility: Home and EU candidates.