PhD Studentship Opportunity Available in Biochar, Soil fertility and Carbon sequestration in the Tropics at James Cook University Cairns campus, Australia

Biochar (charcoal) has considerable potential as a new tool for sequestering carbon in the soil and improving soil fertility and crop yields. Considerable further research into the chemistry of biochar and interactions between biochar, soil and plants is required to develop biochar applications and this PhD project will be centred on this very topical emerging research area. The project will make use of the excellent laboratory and field infrastructure available on the James Cook University Cairns campus, in the wet tropics of Australia. Field trials and laboratory experiments will examine biochar production strategies, biochar chemistry, the impacts of biochar addition on soil fertility and greenhouse gas fluxes. Applications for this PhD scholarship are sought from qualified graduates with a background and interest in agricultural science, agronomy, carbon cycle science or similar discipline. The successful candidate will be based in the School of Earth and Environmental Science under the direction of Professor Michael Bird. The scholarship is available for a start in 2010, and a stipend of A$22,500p.a. will be available to the candidate for three years.

Closing date for applications: March 31st, 2010

For further information on the project contact Michael Bird.