Soil Carbon and Soil Health Through Landscape Transition

Project Code: REID_EI_AREIS27_CASE

Soil Carbon and Soil Health Through Landscape Transition

Project Code: REID_EI_AREIS27_CASE

Project Description

Supervisors

Professor Brian Reid, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia – contact me

Professor Falk Hildebrand, Earlham Institute / QIB

Dr Simon Mitchell, Wendling Beck Nature Recovery Project

 

Scientific Background:

Nature-based solutions (NBS) delivered through land-use change can create new habitats, enhance biodiversity, and increase carbon sequestration at landscape scales. Your research will build upon the UKRI OpenLAND project (£4m – 2024-27 – https://tyndall.ac.uk/projects/openland/) to provide new insights into the molecular and ecological mechanisms through which NBS influence soil carbon and microbiome.

 

Research Methodology and Training

In this project, you will assess soil carbon stocks, carbon stability, and soil microbiome responses during landscape transition. Beyond the rolling program of ARIES cohort training, you will receive research specific training in i) dry combustion and thermogravimetric analysis to quantify carbon flows, carbon quality, soil carbon stocks and their entrained energy, and ii) molecular ecology techniques including eDNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing to characterise soil microbial communities as well as habitat classification for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). By integrating these approaches, you will investigate how changes in vegetation and land use alter the quantity, quality, and energy value of carbon entering soils, and how these shifts influence microbial community structure and function. Your research seeks to evidence, yet unknown, linkages that connect below ground and above ground BNG.

This CASE studentship is aligned with active Landscape Recovery projects, providing a unique opportunity to conduct research within real-world environmental restoration programmes. The Wendling Beck Nature Recovery Project (https://www.wendlingbeck.org/, partners in the OpenLAND) and are providing CASE support for this studentship. Through placements with organisations working at the forefront of landscape recovery, you will gain practical experience and direct exposure to the challenges and opportunities associated with large-scale habitat creation and ecosystem restoration. These experiences will deliver further training and enhance your future employability.

 

Person Specification:

Applicants should have a strong interest in soil science, ecology, environmental change, microbiology, and ideally possess experience in the assessment of environmental media (soils, sediments, water, or related materials), microbiome profiling and bioinformatics. A willingness to work across disciplinary boundaries and engage with both fundamental science and applied environmental challenges would be highly advantageous.

Acceptable first degree subject(s): Microbiology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Environmental Science, Soil Science, Ecology.

References

  • Zhe H. Weng, Z.H., Dalal, R.C., Reid, B.J., Zhu, Y.G., McLaren, T.I., McKenna, B.A., Barnard, M., Doolette, C.L., Lombi, E., Friedl, J., Kopittke, P.M. (2025) Changes in carbon functional groups and their in situ microscale distribution under long-term continuous cropping. EGUsphere, 2025, 1-22.
  • Bahram, M., Lehtovirta-Morley, L., Mikryukov, V., Sveen, T.R., Grant, A., Pent, M., Hildebrand, F., Labouyrie, M., Köninger, J., Tedersoo, L., Jones, A., Panagos, P., Orgiazzi, A. (2026) “Intensive Land Use Enhances Soil Ammonia-Oxidising Archaea at a Continental Scale.” Soil Biology and Biochemistry 213: 110024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110024.
  • Ling, L., Fu, Y., Jeewani, P.H., Tang, C., Pan, S., Reid, B.J., Gunina, A., Li, Y., Li, Y., Cai, Y., Kuzyakov, Y., Li, Y., Su, W.Q., Singh, B.P., Luo, Y., Xu, J., (2021) Organic matter chemistry and bacterial community structure regulate decomposition processes in post-fire forest soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 160, 108311.
  • Gabin, P., Allison, S.D., Bahram, M., Hildebrand, F., Martiny, J.B.H., Treseder, K.K., Martiny, A.C. (2023) Life History Strategies of Soil Bacterial Communities across Global Terrestrial Biomes. Nature Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01465-0.
  • Keenor, S.G., Lee, R., Reid B.J. (2025) Physical protection of soil carbon stocks under regenerative agriculture. Soil, 11, 957-973.

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2027. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 16 December 2026.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£21,805 p.a. for 2026/27) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
  • ARIES postgraduate researchers (PGRs) benefit from bespoke training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis. International applicants should check whether there are any conditions of visa or immigration permission that preclude part-time study. All advertised project proposals have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive and appropriate research and fieldwork environment with respect to protected characteristics. If you have any concerns, please contact us.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship, follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential and will be stored on the UEA SharePoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be asked to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. Please see https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information.

Apply Now

Apply now via the University of East Anglia Application Portal