Philippa Ascough

PhD opportunity: Hot spots or homogeneity? This PhD project investigates whether soil CO₂ flux is released evenly across landscapes or concentrated in a small fraction of the soil and short time periods, and whether the emitted carbon is young or old. The research combines dense arrays of low-cost automated CO₂ flux analysers with radiocarbon analysis at peatland and mineral soil sites. Research areas: environmental science, soil carbon cycling, radiocarbon methods, geoscience, sensor/instrument development, spatial and statistical analysis. Training and experience: students will gain skills in instrument design, build and calibration, long-term fieldwork, radiocarbon methods at SUERC: Centre for the Isotope Sciences, and an industrial placement with Gas Sensing Solutions (GSS). Supervision: Philippa Ascough (University of Glasgow), Jens-Arne Subke (University of Stirling), and Mark Garnett (University of Glasgow). Funding: the project is funded through the IAPETUS NERC Doctoral Training Partnership and hosted at the University of Glasgow (SUERC). Deadline: 5 January 2027, 12 noon GMT. International applicants are asked to contact the supervisor by 7 December 2026. How to apply: review the project details using the link provided, then contact Philippa Ascough for informal enquiries if appropriate. This is a PhD opening for applicants interested in carbon cycle research, soil CO₂ flux, and radiocarbon-based environmental science.