Biogeochemistry of hybrid nitrogen fertilisers in soil

We are seeking a PhD candidate for a three-year project in soil biogeochemistry, focused on nitrogen delivery to soils and plants from novel hybrid nitrogen fertiliser formulations. 

You will join a collaborative research team from The University of Queensland, St Lucia, and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, based in Toowoomba.

The project will investigate how residual nitrogen and microbial necromass nitrogen contribute to synchronising plant nitrogen uptake with soil nitrogen availability. It will also assess the potential for hybrid fertiliser formulations to promote soil carbon stabilisation and storage, reduce soil carbon priming, and limit nitrous oxide emissions.

The research will involve designing and conducting experiments under laboratory, glasshouse/plant-growth, and field conditions. Methods will include greenhouse gas analysis, stable isotope-based carbon and nitrogen source partitioning using ¹³C and ¹⁵N, biogeochemical assays, microbial metagenomics, and microbiological analyses.

You will have opportunities to develop expertise across soil biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, and plant–soil interactions, while working within a multidisciplinary team spanning university and government research. You will receive training in advanced isotopic and molecular approaches and gain experience conducting research from controlled laboratory experiments through to field-scale trials.