PhD opportunity - Nottingham University Closing date 22/01/2017

Modelling soil to plant transfer of radiostrontium across different spatial and temporal scales

PhD opportunity registered at Nottingham University co-supervised by CEH and SCK.CEN

There have been four major nuclear accidents which released significant radioactivity into the environment. The ability to predict the transfer of radionuclides into human foodstuffs is a crucial part of post-accident management and planning. Strontium-90, a calcium analogue, is a potentially important radionuclide in nuclear accidents. Radionuclide contamination of food products is determined by site-specific factors which influence transfer rate. Soil parameters are often amongst the most important of these, yet, for radiostrontium we currently lack the ability to predict transfer based upon soil properties. This PhD will address this important gap by testing the hypothesis that a model based on relatively readily available soil characteristics can be established for radiostrontium. The successful candidate will combine laboratory and field studies with model development and testing. As such you will acquire a wide range of skills and have the opportunity to become part of a multi-national team during your research.

Eligibility: Applicants should hold a minimum of a UK Honours Degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in subjects such as Environmental Science (including Environmental Physics), Geology, Geochemistry or Natural Sciences. This offer is only open to citizens of the EC although non-UK residents are not eligible for the stipend payment. 

For further details contact:  Professor Neil Crout at the University of Nottingham (neil.crout@nottingham.ac.uk)

http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/stars/projects/2017-studentships-details/

Closing date for Applications: 22/01/2017