![Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
1. Phytase enzymes act on phytate to generate plant
available orthophosphate.
In-soil trophic interactions between plants, rhizosphere bacteria and nematodes:
Improving availability of soil phosphorus
Malika Mezeli1 Supervisors: Timothy S. George1, Roy Neilson1, Martin Blackwell2, Courtney Giles1, Philip M. Haygarth3.
1. James Hutton Institute, Dundee. 2. Rothamsted Research. 3. Lancaster University.
Aims
Establish the importance of in-soil
trophic interactions in soil P and
plant dynamics.
Improve plant utilisation of
organic P.
Support future design of
sustainable agricultural systems.
Approach and Methods
Net uptake and change in soil P pool
through the growth cycle:
31P NMR HPLC DGT
The movement of P through
the soil/plant cycle:
18O-PO4 Stable Isotope
Isotope labelling
Categorisation of soil macro and micro fauna
Classic and molecular Nematology PCR RNA analysis
3.Current research aims to
utilize residual soil organic P by
understanding rhizospheric
mechanisms.
4.Currently
the
effectiveness
of these
processes is
limited.
6.In response to current developments this PhD will extend such work to arable systems and
contribute to more sustainable soil P management practices.
1.Global
agricultural
production relies
on rock phosphate.
Major environmental
polluter.
Only 15% of applied
P taken up by plants.
2. Recent work highlights the importance of
bactervious nematodes in effective plant utilisation
of hydrolysed phytate],resulting in increased plant
growth.
5.Recent work highlights the importance
of in-soil interactions such as
bacterivorous nematodes in increasing
plant utilization of soil organic P.
2.Current
phosphorus (P)
management
practices are
economically and
environmentally
unsustainable.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/stars-soilsecurityconferencefinal2015-150916134535-lva1-app6892/85/STARS-Consortium-14-320.jpg)
Uploaded byChris Collins
STARS Consortium
The document describes the Soils Training And Research Studentships (STARS) Centre for Doctoral Training. STARS is a collaboration between 8 partner organizations in the UK to provide training and studentships for 24 PhD students over 3 years focused on soil science. The goals are to create a unique training experience and develop the next generation of soil scientists. Students will be placed into 4 research programs and receive training through cohort activities, online resources, and placements. The management board oversees operations and quality assurance. Example studentship projects are provided covering areas like carbon cycling, soil biodiversity, and the impacts of climate change and agricultural practices on soils.
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STARS Consortium
- 1. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Soils Training And Research Studentships #starsoil NERC-BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training
- 2. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS CEH Lancaster University CEH Bangor University CEH British Geological Survey Rothamsted Research James Hutton Institute University of Nottingham Cranfield University Eight partner organizations, 4 Universities and 4 Research Institutes CEH
- 3. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Starts: October 2015 3 student cohorts intakes 2015, 2016, 2017 24 (8x3) NERC BBSRC Studentships, plus 9 (3x3) match funded from the consortium + additional investment support provided by the consortium Contact: stars@lancaster.ac.uk #starsoil http://www.starsoil.org.uk/ Aim: To create of a novel and unique national training experience for the next generation of soil scientists
- 4. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Program 2 Soils & the delivery of ecosystem services Program 1 Understanding the soil-root interface Program 3 Resilience & response of soil functions & global changes Program 4 Modelling the soil ecosystem at different spatial & temporal scales 4 Programs
- 5. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Some of the things that we hope to achieve… 1. STARS research training journey, stimulating, structured and monitored 2. Cohort training in the College - both ‘physical’ and ‘online’ 3. Use on-line fora to share experiences and host meetings 4. Exposure to key soil ‘platforms’ and multidisciplinary research & collaboration 5. Programme of CASE studentships, Internships (PIPs) and international placements 6. Shared data repository and a legacy of an open online training
- 6. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Some example cohort building activities
- 7. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS The STARS Management Board David Chadwick – Bangor University Guy Kirk – Cranfield University Emma Sayer – Lancaster University Sacha Mooney – University of Nottingham Andrew Tye – BGS David Robinson – CEH Helaina Black – James Hutton Institute Steve McGrath – Rothamsted Research Phil Haygarth (Lancaster University) – Academic Director and Chair of the Board Davey Jones (Bangor University) – Director of Training Olivia Lawrenson (Lancaster University) – Administrator
- 8. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Local supervisors propose projects • Local HEI/RI team select the 4 best projects MB reduces 32 to 16 and advertise • Selection criteria: strategic fit, excellence, collaboration innovation, CASE and PIP Shortlist and interview • Up to 4 interviewed • MB meeting select 8 based on applicant quality Admission Process…..
- 9. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS MB may balance intake for science/intake/mult idisciplinarity QAA Quality Code STARS Directorate Records & Reports to RCUK Local processes used where possible Academic quality and training progress reviews will be achieved using well established ‘tried and tested’ Local PG processes at the registering HEIs Progression process…..
- 10. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Training Quality Supervisory skills workshops Annual review Student Representative Group and Strategy Board Establish success indicators Data Management Returns via Je-S Student Details Portal (SDP) Biannual audits of Je-S SDP information Data and quality management
- 11. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS STARS PhD Projects – Cohort 1 Carbon cycling in plant soil systems Measuring and modelling plant-driven soil carbon dynamics In-soil trophic interactions between plants, rhizosphere bacteria and nematodes: improving availability of soil phosphorus Breaking new ground: novel plants for the remediation and conditioning of soil structure Rhizosphere bacteria promote sustainable crop growth Does soil biodiversity matter? Connecting diversity, function and the delivery of ecosystem services from soils Dynamics of metal nanoparticles in soil environments Accounting for soil change using ecosystems service approach Effects of long-term climate change on microbially-mediated soil processes Mitigating soil erosion by manipulating root system architecture Can reduced tillage mitigate against climate change?
- 12. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Carbon Cycling in Plant Soil Systems Understanding what controls the storage of carbon in soils and the cycling of plant nutrients is critical to both maintenance of the natural environment and to feeding the world’s population sustainably. Supervisors: Paul Hill & Davey Jones (Bangor), Sacha Mooney (Nottingham) and Tiina Roose (Southampton) Candidate: Maria McMahon Project aims: To utilise recent technological advances to determine: (1) The relative quantities and types of C, N and P delivered to the soil in turnover of roots and mycorrhizas in temperate permanent grassland. (2) The rate and route of utilisation by soil microbes of the various forms of C delivered to the soil by these processes and how this controls the delivery of C back to the atmosphere as CO2. (3) How synchronous with mineralisation of plant C to CO2 is the return of N and P to plant-available forms. (4) How estimates of root and mycorrhizal turnover measured by state-of- the-art techniques compare with those from more traditional approaches.
- 13. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Measuring and modelling plant-driven soil carbon dynamics Applications re-opened – deadline: 28th September All information found at www.starsoil.org.uk Large amounts of carbon are held as organic matter in the world’s soils. Existing models predict that the land surface will switch from being a sink for atmospheric CO2 to being a net source as soils give up their carbon with rising temperature, resulting in a positive feedback loop. Supervisors: Guy Kirk, Ron Corstanje (Cranfield) and Eric Paterson (JHI) The processes governing this are poorly understood, and poorly represented in models. Project aims: Use a novel field laboratory at Cranfield to study these processes including: 1) isotopic labelling of plants and microbial substrates to follow carbon fluxes between plant and soil pools. 2) mathematical modelling to link the processes together.
- 14. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS 1. Phytase enzymes act on phytate to generate plant available orthophosphate. In-soil trophic interactions between plants, rhizosphere bacteria and nematodes: Improving availability of soil phosphorus Malika Mezeli1 Supervisors: Timothy S. George1, Roy Neilson1, Martin Blackwell2, Courtney Giles1, Philip M. Haygarth3. 1. James Hutton Institute, Dundee. 2. Rothamsted Research. 3. Lancaster University. Aims Establish the importance of in-soil trophic interactions in soil P and plant dynamics. Improve plant utilisation of organic P. Support future design of sustainable agricultural systems. Approach and Methods Net uptake and change in soil P pool through the growth cycle: 31P NMR HPLC DGT The movement of P through the soil/plant cycle: 18O-PO4 Stable Isotope Isotope labelling Categorisation of soil macro and micro fauna Classic and molecular Nematology PCR RNA analysis 3.Current research aims to utilize residual soil organic P by understanding rhizospheric mechanisms. 4.Currently the effectiveness of these processes is limited. 6.In response to current developments this PhD will extend such work to arable systems and contribute to more sustainable soil P management practices. 1.Global agricultural production relies on rock phosphate. Major environmental polluter. Only 15% of applied P taken up by plants. 2. Recent work highlights the importance of bactervious nematodes in effective plant utilisation of hydrolysed phytate],resulting in increased plant growth. 5.Recent work highlights the importance of in-soil interactions such as bacterivorous nematodes in increasing plant utilization of soil organic P. 2.Current phosphorus (P) management practices are economically and environmentally unsustainable.
- 15. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Breaking new ground: novel plants for the remediation and conditioning of soil structure Project aims: (i) to identify novel non-crop plant species competent in growing in structurally compromised soils; (ii) establish the biophysical mechanisms and processes by which soil structural dynamics are manifest via root-based traits and their interactions with the soil biota; (iii) explore the potential for such species to be used as a practical means to improve and manage soil structure as novelbreak crops in production systems. Soil structural degradation is a globally pervasive problem in production agriculture and horticulture, affecting crop productivity and environmental quality, and occurs sporadically in natural ecosystems. A particular issue is that of compaction, often manifest as a general collapse of soil structure in the topsoil layer and a ‘pan’ below this zone, both of which compromise the efficient functioning of crop roots. Supervisors: Karl Ritz and Sacha Mooney (Nottingham) Glyn Bengough (JHI) and Paul Brown (Frontier Agriculture) (interviews pending)
- 16. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Rhizosphere bacteria promote sustainable crop growth Student: Heather Ruscoe Supervisors: Penny Hirsch, Tim Mauchline, Rothamsted Research Ian Dodd, Lancaster University Background: This project aims to establish whether introducing P. fluorescens inoculants to crop plants can provide robust, reproducible growth advantages and resilience to environmental stresses. Hypotheses: • Plants either differentially select rhizosphere microorganisms with beneficial traits, or the process is stochastic and depends on the numbers and diversity of bacteria in the bulk soil • Introducing beneficial individual isolates or assemblages can enhance plant growth and allow more efficient use of fertilizers • Crop water status affects microbial populations and their interactions with plants Approach: Screen isolates from wheat roots, for genes encoding well-known beneficial traits including nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilisation, ACC deaminase and production of anti-fungal metabolites (e.g. phloroglucinol and HCN production) for which sequence data are available, using standard bioinformatics tools.
- 17. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Does soil biodiversity matter? Connecting diversity, function and the delivery of ecosystem services from soils Project aims: To capitalize on a unique soil biodiversity dataset to answer key questions about: (1) how below-ground diversity relates to land use and key components of the ecosystem (2) how below-ground diversity responds to agricultural land management (3) how below-ground diversity relates to soil function and ecosystem service provision. This knowledge will help our fundamental understanding of how soil ecosystems work as well as providing the underpinning information required by regulators and policymakers to make informed decisions about managing and protecting soils for future generations Soil represents one of the most diverse habitats on earth yet our understanding of how this regulates soil function and the subsequent delivery of ecosystem services remains extremely poor. Recent advances in methods for characterising soil microbial communities, however, has provided us with an unprecedented opportunity to understand the factors driving below-ground diversity and the links to ecosystem functioning. Supervisors: Davey Jones, Simon Creer (Bangor), David Robinson (CEH) and James Skates (Welsh Gov.t) Candidate: Paul George
- 18. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Dynamics of metal nanoparticles in soil environments The use of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) in consumer and industrial products has increased rapidly. Wastewater treatment is a major pathway for nanoparticle release to soils. Transformations during the sewage treatment process are likely, so that the NP’s in the sludge are often ‘aged’ and in the form of ZnS, AgS and Zn phosphates. Project aims: There is currently limited knowledge regarding the long term fate of ‘aged’ NPs in UK soils. This PhD seeks to address the key gaps in our understanding of their behaviour by quantifying changes in their speciation, mobility, bioaccumulation and toxicity across a range of soil types and time periods. Supervisors: Andrew Tye (BGS), Steve Lofts, Claus Svedsen (CEH) and Scott Young (Nottingham) Candidate: Beckie Draper
- 19. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS SUPERVISORS David Robinson: NERC - Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bangor Davey Jones: Bangor University Iain Fraser: University of Kent Candidate: Fiona Seaton AIMS • Determine how best to combine and analyze national soil data with soil and land use change data to create ecosystem accounts. • Use national data to explore linkage between above and belowground soil function and ecosystem service delivery. • Propose new ways to assess soil change that will advance the work of the UN’s experimental ecosystem accounts. Robinson, D.A. 2015. Science 347, 6218: 140 Accounting for soil change using ecosystems service approach
- 20. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS • Preliminary work shows that two decades of summer drought and winter warming treatments have altered soil microbial communities in ancient species-rich grassland. • This studentship investigates the functional consequences of those changes. Buxton Climate Impacts Study • Established in 1993 • climate treatments and main interactions in 5 replicate blocks Summer drought Winter warming Project aims: • To determine whether specific microbial functional groups are disproportionately affected by the Buxton climate treatments. • To quantify changes in microbial processes (decomposition and nutrient cycling) in response to climate treatments. • To link shifts in microbial functional groups to changes in soil processes. Supervisors: Emma Sayer & Carly Stevens (Lancaster) and Anna Oliver & Rob Griffiths (CEH) Candidate: James Edgerly Effects of long-term climate change on microbially- mediated soil processes
- 21. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Mitigating soil erosion by manipulating root system architecture Plant roots are a crucial yet under-researched factor for reducing water erosion rates through their ability to alter soil properties such as aggregate stability, hydraulic function and shear strength. Project aims: To evaluate the effects of genotypic variation in root architecture (specifically vertical gradients in lateral root proliferation) on soil erosion rates. Supervisors: John Quinton, Ian Dodd (Lancaster) and Sacha Mooney (Nottingham) Candidate: Emma Burak
- 22. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS Can reduced tillage mitigate against climate change? Project aims: 1. Develop an optimized design to sample conventional and RT farms and facilitate local and regional estimates of treatment effects. 2. Assess seasonal variation in in-situ GHG release (chambers) and soil structure at sampled sites. 3. Quantify soil biophysical properties (e.g. aggregate stability, pore connectivity by X-ray CT) at sampled sites and to use these and in-situ observations to explain observed effects on GHG release. Reduced (including zero) tillage (RT) is increasingly popular globally and in the UK, where it is practised on ca. 45% of arable land. There is growing evidence RT reduces runoff, enhances water retention and may promote carbon sequestration. However, the effects of RT on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soil are uncertain. Supervisors: Sacha Mooney, Sofie Sjogersten (Nottingham), Murray Lark and Barry Rawlings (BGS) Candidate: Hannah Cooper
- 23. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS STARS - SSP collaboration opportunities…… • Aim to be community facing and welcome to offers of collaboration and working together • Additional ‘third supervisor’ collaboration welcomed – with training benefit for the student • CASE and internship opportunities • Wider participation in some physical training, on an ad hoc basis - space and logistics permitting • An open source vision for the online training once established - training videos, online virtual training
- 24. Soils Training AndResearch Studentships Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS 2016 Project Call – Cohort 2 • 8 NERC/BBSRC studentships available, plus 3 matched funded studentships. • Deadline for project proposal submission is: 4 pm on 30th September. • Application guidelines and forms can be downloaded from the STARS homepage: www.starsoil.org.uk. • Enquires to: stars@lancaster.ac.uk.
Editor's Notes
- #2 Paul. Lower case “a” in “And”
- #3 4 HEIs hold unrivalled international soil research credibility with pioneering ‘state-of-the-art’ facilities. 4 RIs complement national and international capacity to translate ‘blue-skies’ research into environmental solutions with knowledge, models, databases, long-term monitoring networks and experiments. Cover key organisations in UK We have a plan for bringing together and managing the wide geographical spread Bringing the UK soil science community together Two NERC institutes. One BBSRC inst and Notts is a BBSRC Strategic Partner Uni
- #5 Maps to call
- #6 Training Excellence (= 35% ~ 5 slides) Factors and evidence that might be discussed Students have access to, and are encouraged, by peer to peer learning and support. Mechanisms for supervision and monitoring of both student and supervisor. Integration of students into the relevant teams/projects/departments/schools. How generalist and specialist development needs of individual students will be identified and delivered. The personal/ professional/ career learning and development that students will receive. The collaborative opportunities, which may include internships, industrial placements, overseas studies, and co- supervisory arrangements if appropriate. Completion rates, publication and first destination data for students hosted within CDT institutions. Employability. Mechanisms to ensure the development of independent researchers and world-leading scientists. Leveraged funding and in-kind support for the CDT. Key aspects for an outstanding CDT Students are part of an active community and managed as a cohort. Excellent scientific training and transferable/professio nal skills development opportunities. Challenging and relevant projects. Timely access to world-class facilities, direct experience of cutting-edge techniques, technologies and up to date methodologies. End user engagement: Students will gain value from interaction with end-users in industry, government and civil society) and leave equipped with skills applicable to the environment sector: skills for policy-makers and regulators; industry and business; and NGOs and charities. Excellent training and support for supervisors.
- #7 Training Excellence (= 35% ~ 5 slides) Factors and evidence that might be discussed Students have access to, and are encouraged, by peer to peer learning and support. Mechanisms for supervision and monitoring of both student and supervisor. Integration of students into the relevant teams/projects/departments/schools. How generalist and specialist development needs of individual students will be identified and delivered. The personal/ professional/ career learning and development that students will receive. The collaborative opportunities, which may include internships, industrial placements, overseas studies, and co- supervisory arrangements if appropriate. Completion rates, publication and first destination data for students hosted within CDT institutions. Employability. Mechanisms to ensure the development of independent researchers and world-leading scientists. Leveraged funding and in-kind support for the CDT. Key aspects for an outstanding CDT Students are part of an active community and managed as a cohort. Excellent scientific training and transferable/professio nal skills development opportunities. Challenging and relevant projects. Timely access to world-class facilities, direct experience of cutting-edge techniques, technologies and up to date methodologies. End user engagement: Students will gain value from interaction with end-users in industry, government and civil society) and leave equipped with skills applicable to the environment sector: skills for policy-makers and regulators; industry and business; and NGOs and charities. Excellent training and support for supervisors.
- #9 Advertised annually on jobs.ac.uk and FindaPhD.com as well as the STARS CDT website and local HEIs and RIs. Applicants will complete a tailored STARS CDT application form Emphasis will be given to excellent students: will hold at least a high 2(i) degree in an appropriate maths-science-engineering discipline The supervisor and local STARS MB representative will short-list the candidates for each PhD on the basis of their qualifications & interview up to four and a primary candidate for each PhD will be identified. A MB in a meeting will then review these primary candidate applications and eight will be selected for support based on applicant quality.
- #10 Each of the degree awarding partners’ existing progress monitoring processes are currently benchmarked against the QAA Quality Code, but the STARS Directorate will maintain copies of reports and metrics for RCUK audit purposes. Where possible, local PG processes will be used appropriate to avoid unnecessary duplication. Submission and examination will necessarily follow the registering university’s regulations. Metrics of the recruitment process supplied to STARS Directorate by the local PG offices and MB representative. The MB reserves the right to balance the PhD intake to ensure project representation across the STARS themes and to ensure that at least 50% of the projects demonstrate multidisciplinarity All students will have at least two supervisors who may be cross-theme and cross-institutional. The MB will also approve or revise supervisory teams to ensure new supervisors are supported and multidisciplinarity for the student The MB will oversee student academic progress with input from the Director of Training. STARS students- approved supervisors and local PG offices will be responsible for recording their progress, activities, achievements, supervision and training (with auditable records and metrics maintained at the Directorate at LU). Academic quality and training progress reviews will be achieved using well established ‘tried and tested’ Local PG processes at the registering HEIs (LU, BU, CU and UoN). At each review juncture (i.e. ~6, 12, 18, 24, 36 months) students will be required to submit a report outlining their progress to date, and their research plans for the next six months-year.
- #11 : quality and progress of students recruited, student satisfaction with the integrated training programme, submission and completion rates, quality of career destinations of CDT graduates, notable success stories, membership of professional societies, awards and prizes, and engagement with partners/industry. These will be reported to NERC and BBSRC as required.