The Swiss National Science Foundation is funding a PhD studentship to pursue research at the Institute for Geography/Soil Science, University of Bern in Switzerland. Applicant must have a master in environmental chemistry, agricultural science, environmental science, geoecology, geography, Geoscience, biology or related field. The duration of funding is of three years. Applicant must have good academic records. Application should be submitted via email by 15.08.2013.
Study Subject(s): Research will be done in under science category and tasks will be stable metal isotopes as tools to assess assurance enrichment and sources of trace metals in soils and crops to Improve sustainability of agricultural systems at University of Bern in Switzerland.
Course Level: This studentship is for pursuing PhD level at University of Bern in Switzerland.
Scholarship Provider: Swiss National Science Foundation
Scholarship can be taken at: Switzerland
Eligibility: • Master in environmental chemistry, agricultural science, environmental science, geo ecology, geography, geo science, biology or related field with at least “good” marks.
• Laboratory experience and good analytical understanding.
• Willingness to perform field work at agricultural sites.
Scholarship Open for Students of Following Countries: Switzerland applicants are eligible for this PhD studentship.
Scholarship Description: Stable metal isotopes as tools to assess enrichment and sources of trace metals in soils and crops to improve sustainability of agricultural systems. Several studies have shown that current traces metal inputs to agricultural systems are clearly too high, resulting in trace metal accumulation in soils and possibly harmful effects on human health and on ecosystem functions in the long run. The reduction of metal loads requires knowledge of all input and output paths which is up to now incomplete. The novel metal stable isotope approach for three most crucial trace metals (Cu, Cd and Zn) combined with flux budgeting and modeling will be used to identify and quantify metal sources to Swiss agricultural soils. Furthermore bio geochemical behavior of these trace metals at agricultural sites will be of interest. Results will be used to improve sustainability of agricultural systems in terms of trace metals. The PhD position combines state of the art analytical approaches, with field work and modeling approaches will take place in the network of the Swiss National Research Programm 69: Healthy Nutrition and Sustainable Food Production.
Number of award(s): Not Known
Duration of award(s): PhD student (50% position) working for 3 years.
What does it cover? Funding for PhD student covers (50% position) working for 3 years.
Selection Criteria: Not Known
Notification: Not Known
How to Apply: The mode of applying is electronically. Please send your application to Dr. Moritz Bigalke, via email to moritz.bigalke-at-giub.unibe.ch
Scholarship Application Deadline: The deadline for applications is until 15.08.2013.
Further Official Scholarship Information and Application