Walsh PhD Fellowship: Nutrient source apportionment in Irish water bodies.

30th June 2010

Context: Nutrient transfers from land to water, caused by combinations of phosphorus and nitrogen loss from agricultural and urban sources, are considered to be one of the most pervasive water quality problems in developed countries. These sources have predominant periods of mass transfers and impacts in specific water body types according to influences of current hydrology and landuse and past activities and conditions. In Ireland, all water body types can be impacted by nutrient transfers; preventing these impacts from occurring requires a detailed understanding of dose-response issues at both low and high river flows and in standing water bodies. Building on ongoing catchment scale research into the delivery of nutrients to inland water bodies, this project aims to investigate the seasonal impacts of specific nutrient sources on a selection of rivers and lakes in Ireland. Utilising state-of-the-art high resolution monitoring facilities established through the Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP), the objectives of the project are to:

1. use existing datasets of river discharge and nutrient concentration from meso- to macro-scale river catchments to develop nutrient load apportionment models;
2. use the nutrient load apportionment models to compare with patterns and residence times from a series of high resolution discharge and water quality river stations in Ireland; and
3. determine the water quality impacts of external and internal nutrient loading patterns in standing waters.

Requirements: Applicants should have a good primary degree (II1 or I) and a M.Sc. in an appropriate discipline (Geography, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, etc.). The successful candidate will be highly self-motivated and prepared for extended periods of hydrological and limnological field work working with modern field-based analytical equipment. (S)he will also be keen to publish the results of their research in high impact journals in the field. A full EU driving licence is required.

Award: The successful applicant will be enrolled as a student and based primarily in the School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland. Some time will also be spent at the Teagasc Johnstown Castle Research Laboratories, Wexford. The 4 year award (comprising EU-level fees, laboratory and fieldwork costs and a stipend of c. 15,000 Euro per year) will start as soon as possible after 1st October 2010. However the post will be kept open until the most suitable candidate is appointed.

Supervisors: Prof David Taylor (Trinity College, Dublin), Prof Phil Jordan, Dr Karl Richards and Dr Alice Melland (Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Wexford).

Further Information/applications:

Further particulars about this project are available to download (PDF format, 365KB).

Prof Phil Jordan, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle
Phone: +353 (0)53 917 1260. Email: phil.jordan@teagasc.ie. Website: http://www.teagasc.ie/agcatchments.

Application Procedure: Submit an electronic copy of Curriculum Vitae, including the names and contact details of two academic referees, and a letter of interest to Prof David Taylor (taylord@tcd.ie).

Closing date for receipt of applications: 5pm (Ireland time) 31st July 2010.