Stillingstittel:
PhD scholarship regarding Utilization of Compost from Dry Sanitation in Agriculture - ref.no 16/04001

Stillingsbeskrivelse:

Global challenges regarding energy and climate change, the environment, health, food safety, technology and renewable solutions, use and conservation of land and natural resources, and development of the bio-economy, requires greater effort. NMBU is well equipped to conduct further research in these fields. NMBU's expertise spans entire value chains and includes both basic and applied research.

 

On 1 January 2014, the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science and the University of Life Sciences merged and became -NMBU, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. NMBU has 1700 employees and 5100 students, and is currently located on two campuses - Ås, about 30 km south of Oslo, and Adamstuen in Oslo. In 2019, the new research- and education-building for veterinary science will be completed and all of NMBU will then be located at Campus Ås.

 

Further information about NMBU is available on www.nmbu.no

Jobbnorge ID: 128701

At the Department of Environmental Sciences (IMV), section of Soil Sciences a 3-year PhD position is available on the utilization of compost from dry sanitation in agriculture. The research will be focused on the compost quality, fertilizer potential and effect as a soil conditioner.

 

IMV has about 80 employees, including permanent and temporary scientific positions, PhD students, post doctors, technicians and administrative positions. The Department is organized into four scientific groups/sections; Environmental Chemistry, Geology, Hydrology and Limnology and Soil Sciences. The successful candidate will also be included in the Environmental Chemistry group/Isotope Laboratory research. See www.nmbu.imv.no.

 

 

Research project

Large amounts of nutrients can be collected from dry sanitation, and compost from human excreta can be used both as a soil conditioner and fertilizer product.  These nutrients to agriculture the excreta need to be processed so that they are hygienically safe. They also need to be safe in terms of other potential harmful constituents such as residues from pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). Components in PPCP-s are shown to be harmful in aquatic environments. Very little is known about degradation of PPCP-s in composting toilets. Further, the knowledge of potential uptake of pharmaceuticals or their metabolites in crops is limited and, thus, needs in-depth scientific elucidation.

 

In this PhD project the compost quality from processed human excreta will be assessed with respect to fertilizer potential, effect as a soil conditioner and reduction or elimination of key PPCP components in both the compost and the plant-agroecological system. The work will be performed with co-supervision from the Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Sciences (IKBM) and the department of Mathematical Sciences and Technology (IMT).

 

 

Main tasks

The work will include studies of

• solar enhancement of the composting process
• The fertilizer effect of the compost product
• The reduction of PPCP-s and indicator organisms
• Transfer of PPCP-s from compost to crops.

In collaboration with supervisors, the successful candidate is expected to prepare a work and research plan for the PhD scholarship period within the first few months of the appointment. The candidate will be part of a team of researchers, doctoral fellows and graduate students at the Department of Environmental Sciences together with international partners. Visits to institutions abroad must be expected. The candidate must be prepared to learn to analyze for PPCP-s in compost material, pl

Minstelønn: 0

Maksimal lønn: 0

Arbeidsgiver Navn: Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige unive

Arbeidsgiver adresse: Universitetstunet 3 1430 ÅS

Job kort beskrivelse: University and higher education teachers

Land: Norge

Region: Akershus

Kilde til jobbtilbud: NAV, Offentlige arbeidsformidlinger, Norge

Hvordan søke: Annet - se fritekst

Lønn valuta: NOK

Lønn periode: Pr. år