The work will take place in the division of Soil and Water Management, which is part of the faculty of Bioscience Engineering of KU Leuven. The research group has long standing experience in the bioavailability and mobility of nutrients and contaminants in the environment and their effect on plant growth. The lab is well-equipped with a range of advanced analytical instruments and plant growth facilities required for these research topics. At the same time, you will become part of a large, interdisciplinary team of motivated students/researchers that jointly strives to unravel applied and fundamental questions related to soil science.
ProjectThis PhD project is part of the European project (ERC) EXPOSOIL, which aims to quantify the effects of soil structure and mobile colloids on bioavailability of nutrients and contaminants and to develop methods to understand and diagnose these effects. A novel detection technique for mobile colloids in undisturbed soil is being developed in the framework of the EXPOSOIL project. The technique is based on reactive membranes acting as zero sinks for solutes and colloids that mimic plant roots, and subsequent elemental mapping of these membranes generates 2D images of the locally available elements. In this new PhD project, that novel technique will be used to tackle the lingering issue in soil science on the role of mobile colloids on bioavailability to plants, in particular focussing on the availability of the nutrient phosphate. Phosphate fluxes from native soil colloids and designed phosphorus nano-fertilisers will be studied in situ with high-resolution imaging of rhizosphere processes using laser-ablation ICP-MS. Improved understanding of colloidal phosphorus (P) bioavailability may eventually lead to new P fertilizer strategies with higher efficiency compared to traditional soluble P fertilizers in P-fixing soils. Profile
Offer
Interested?For further information or to apply you can contact Erik Smolders: erik.smolders@kuleuven.be or Claudia Moens: claudia.moens@kuleuven.be. You can apply for this job no later than July 31,2023 via the online application tool.Applicants should submit a detailed CV and a cover letter expressing their motivation and interest in the position. KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be. You can apply for this job no later than July 31, 2023 via the
KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.
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