Targeting soil functions
Targeting soil functions through functional microbiome identification tools
Soils are the foundation of every food supply chain. Soils perform a wide range of functions necessary to sustain life, including supporting agriculture, maintaining biodiversity and regulating water bodies. A common denominator for healthy soils and their multifunctionality is the soil microbiome, which is malleable and influenced by agricultural management. A healthy soil microbiome can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, improve the quality of soil, water and food, and increase resilience to climate change. The project aims to enhance soil functions for better soil health and water quality by focusing on managing the soil microbiome and soil physico-chemical properties through the application and ideation of new renewable engineered amendments. Targeted management to harness effective soil functions contributes to a future-proof agricultural sector.
Research challenges
Identifying soil indicators, including chemical, physical, biological, and agronomic management variables, is essential for understanding the drivers of optimal soil functionality. Developing new analytical methods is necessary to better assess and exploit these functions. Particular attention should be given to the soil microbiome, which is the community of microorganisms present in a given soil. Leveraging microbial sequencing data, agronomical and physico-chemical data, integrative data science provides opportunities to classify microbial communities into function-related groups, and to generate predictive tools for linking specific microbiomes to defined soil functions.
Your assignment
You will identify the key soil functions that are essential for optimal soil performance, such as nutrient cycling, water regulation, carbon storage, and the suppression of pathogens. For each function, you will determine which microbial organisms or functions are primarily responsible. You will use DNA sequencing technology to characterize the microbial communities associated with these functions. In addition, you will design and develop a new method to measure microbial activity, allowing you to establish robust links between soil functions, the presence of specific microorganisms, and their functional activity. You will closely collaborate with other researchers that work on the same project and with farmers and related organizations and companies.
Your profile
You have a master’s degree in biology, agricultural sciences or equivalent, and have experience with bioinformatics and analyses of complex data sets such as microbiomes. You are an independent, motivated student with an affinity for multidisciplinary and impact-driven research. You like working in a dynamic environment, are a team player and are interested in collaborating with companies and farmers.
Keywords: microbiome analysis; bioinformatics; molecular biology, soil health; agriculture; NGS
Professor/University group/Wetsus supervisor(s): University promotor and co-promotor: Prof. Dr. Martijn Bezemer (Leiden University, Institute of Biology); Wetsus supervisor(s): Dr. Pieter van Veelen
Project partners: Soil
Only applications that are complete, in English, and submitted via the application webpage before the deadline will be considered eligible.
Guidelines for applicants: https://phdpositionswetsus.eu/guide-for-applicants/
