FERTICYCLE: 15 Early Stage Researchers (PhD) 1636 views

The Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at University of Copenhagen is offering 15 early stage researchers (ESR) in the project FERTICYCLE (new bio-based fertilisers from organic waste upcycling’).

About the project:

• The overall research objective of FertiCycle is to develop new processes for production of bio-based fertilisers, recycling wasted resources and to estimate the market potential and sustainability challenges of their production and use.
• The comprehensive training program will enable the individual ESR to generate, integrate and apply inter-disciplinary knowledge for developing new technical solutions for bio-based fertiliser production, management and marketing.
• The training, secondments and internships will also give them competences for inter-sectoral work and international collaboration in industry and academia.

Partners involved are:

• University of Copenhagen
• Wageningen University
• University of Lisbon
• ETH
• University of Torino
• Bangor University
• Ghent University
• INRAE
• Aarhus University
• United Experts

15 PhD projects available are:

Project 1 – Improving fertilising properties and reduction of emissions from dairy excrements by novel manure management strategies.

Host – Wageningen University, Netherlands

Project 2 – Using pH modification of animal manures for reducing emissions and improving fertiliser value.

Host – University of Lisbon, Portugal

Project 3 – Designing pre-treatment and anaerobic digestion of biowastes for higher crop nutrient utilisation.

Host – Aarhus University, Denmark

Project 4 – Designing novel peat-free organo-mineral fertiliser production from recyclables.

Host – University of Torino, Italy

Project 5 – Using upstream AD process-control to achieve minimal content of undesired trace elements.

Host – Gent University, Belgium

Project 6 – Enhancement of nutrient availability from biowaste ashes, chars and precipitates.

Host – University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Project 7 – Development and assessment of new and rapid analyses and test procedures of bio-based fertilisers.

Host – Wageningen University, Netherlands

Project 8 – Determining crop uptake and fate of nutrients from new waste and bio-based fertilisers – the case of phosphorus.

Host – ETH, Zurich, Switzerland

Project 9 – Determining the fertiliser value and environmental implications of new anaerobic digestate products from agricultural and urban waste streams.

Host – Bangor University, United Kingdom

Project 10 – Optimising use and application of waste and bio-based fertilisers – plant and rhizosphere responses to fertiliser placement.

Host- University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Project 11 – Modelling the effects of bio based fertilisers on productivity and soil/air/water quality of different cropping systems including market garden in peri-urban agriculture.

Host- INRAE, French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, France

Project 12 – Calculating life cycle inventory factors and life cycle assessments of bio-based fertilisers.

Host- University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Project 13 – Modelling short- and long-term effects of bio-based fertilisers on productivity, soil quality and emissions.

Host- Wageningen University, Netherlands

Project 14 – Potential market development and cost-benefit analyses for organic waste based fertilisers.

Host- United Experts, Belgium

Project 15 – Economic Evaluation of the inclusion of bio-based mineral nutrients in the fertilisation strategies across the EU.

Host: University of Gent, Belgium

Requirements:

• Applicant must hold master’s in Agricultural sciences, Environmental sciences, Engineering, Economics.
• Sufficient academic skills and background to successfully complete a doctoral degree, and be able to fulfil the admission requirements of the doctoral program in question
• Good skills in data management and analysis.
• Strong communication (written and oral English) and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with cross-disciplinary and/or multi-cultural collaboration will be an advantage.

How to apply:

Apply online