Post-Doctoral Research Fellow - Nutrient recovery from subsurface agricultural drains (NUTRECS)

Applications are sought for a post-doctoral position to work on a project titled “Nutrient capture and recovery technology from subsurface agricultural drainage networks” within the Environmental engineering research group at Trinity College Dublin (TCD).

Rural water management systems (RWMS’s) including subsurface agricultural drains are often overlooked and non-obvious in water source protection studies. In Ireland alone, it is estimated that there is artificial subsurface drainage under 44% of all agricultural land, or under 29% of the total land area. International studies have shown that subsurface drains located in rural headwater catchments can account for a significant percentage of both watershed discharge and major nutrient [(nitrogen (N) & phosphorus (P)] export impacting water quality downstream. Previous studies have illustrated that nutrient concentrations and loads from subsurface agricultural field drains in some Irish catchments
are significant. The focus of this project is the development of cost-effective technologies to
concurrently reduce and recovery excess nutrients from subsurface drainage waters for water quality protection.

This project provides a unique opportunity for a post-doctoral researcher to pursue interdisciplinary research and broaden their career in the thriving intellectual community at Trinity College Dublin. Based in the School of Engineering, the post-doctoral student will work closely with the other researchers within the research group. The successful applicant would be expected to work 8 hours per day, 5 days per week with the possibility of out of hours work occasionally. The Salary is €54 – 56K.

NUTRECS is an interdisciplinary project that explores and develops technologies for nutrient capture and recovery from subsurface drainage networks.

The start date for this position is 1st October 2023 or until such time as the position is filled.