ACCE DTP Studentship – Earthworms as ploughs and bioreactors: understanding mechanical and biogeochemical impacts for sustainable soils

Details

Earthworms are ecosystem engineers; burrowing significantly impacts soil causing substantial particle movement, influencing soil physical properties and affecting many soil ecosystem services including food production, water retention and carbon storage. However, rates of bioturbation and earthworm responses to different land management techniques and climate change are currently poorly constrained. This hinders the incorporation of soil bioturbation within robust predictive models of landscape response to changes in management and climate. 

Preliminary findings show that luminescence signals can detect when mineral grains are transported to the surface and subsequently become buried in the soil profile. Earthworms also impact mineral coatings on grains as soil passes through the gut, affecting how luminescence signals respond, so this project will also study microbial-mineral coating relationships providing better understanding of biogeochemical functioning within soil. 

Objectives:

This studentship will develop novel luminescence techniques, applied alongside well-established approaches (laboratory and field trials), to study how earthworms influence soil characteristics. 

1) Establish novel method for tracing soil particle movement using luminescence. 

2) Refine methods for understanding how passage through the earthworm gut affects mineralogy of grain coatings as this impacts luminescence signal reduction by light. 

This project will involve both controlled laboratory experiments and field-based mesocosm experiments. The student will receive training in a range of techniques including luminescence dating, soil analysis, and earthworm identification. The student will be based at the University of Sheffield but will spend time working at the University of York and with project partners on farms spanning Leicestershire and Derbyshire. The study is extremely timely, helping landowners, managers and farmers develop and maintain sustainable soils, and face the multiple challenges of climate change and economic uncertainties related to COVID-19 and Brexit. 

The project will suit applicants from a wide range of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Geography, Biology or other science or STEM subjects.

Start date: 1st October 2023

This PhD project is part of the NERC funded Doctoral Training Partnership “ACCE” (Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment. ACCE is a partnership between the Universities of Sheffield, Liverpool, York, CEH, and NHM, for more information about ACCE and how to apply please visit the website: https://accedtp.ac.uk/

The ACCE DTP is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith or religious belief, pregnancy or maternity, parental or caring responsibilities or career pathway to date. We understand that a student’s potential can be shown in many ways and we strive to recruit students from all backgrounds, and support them on their scientific journey. 

We have designed our application systems to identify candidates who are likely to be successful in research regardless of what opportunities may have been available to them prior to their application.

How to apply:

All applicants to ACCE must complete the ACCE personal statement proforma. This is instead of a normal personal/supporting statement/cover letter. The proforma is designed to standardise this part of the application to minimise the difference between those who are given support and those who are not. The proforma and more information on the ACCE application process can be found here: https://accedtp.ac.uk/how-to-apply-to-acce-dtp/.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview to take place in the w/c 20th February 2023.