The aim of this PhD position is to understand the effects of pollutants on in-stream microbial processes. The experimental objectives are:
- Investigate how microbial community compositions change across environmental pressure gradients (land-use, climate, riparian conditions, water chemistry) related to sensitivity to chemical and physical stressors.
- Test how pollutants affect microbial community structure, C, N and P cycling and broader ecosystem services.
- Test if specific microbial community groups influencing key processes may differ in stressor sensitivities from whole community diversity and whether this can inform better monitoring and management of rivers.
The project will be supervised by Dr Eulyn Pagaling, Prof Marc Stutter, Prof Phil Jordan and Dr Anna Lupon.
The position duration is three years. You will be based in the Environmental and Biochemical Sciences Department at the James Hutton Institute located in Aberdeen, Scotland in collaboration with the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Ulster University, N. Ireland.
The Doctoral Candidate will also have an opportunity to take part in short visits and secondments to BEYOND partners University College Dublin, Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Environment Protection Agency and CHIVAS for additional training and knowledge exchange.