DEADLINE: 11th September 2022
An exciting new funded-PhD opportunity is available to undertake state-of-the-art prospective LCA on promising bio-based value chains from around the world. Selected value chains will be integrated into a biophysical land-GHG model to evaluate how they might interact with agriculture, land use and energy sectors within national pathways to climate neutrality for Ireland – an example country at the forefront of the food-security/bioeconomy/climate-change nexus. The successful candidate will join a world-class group of LCA practitioners and biophysical modellers, drawing on state-of-the art modelling frameworks including the GOBLIN (General Overview for a Back-casting approach of Livestock Intensification) model1. The candidate will also have the opportunity to contribute research towards international bioenergy sustainability assessment being undertaken in International Energy Agency Task 45. Outputs will include environmental footprints for novel bio-based products, and wider environmental consequences of bio-based value chain out-scaling at national/European/global scales (considering current and future counterfactual waste management, energy generation and production processes). There will be a particular focus on forestry-based wood value chains, owing to the importance of forestry for achieving climate neutrality. A combination of attributional and consequential LCA approaches will be employed to generate results that inform industry and policy action.
A multi-disciplinary supervisory team will be led by Dr David Styles in NUI Galway. The successful candidate will join a dynamic and growing research group applying LCA to evaluate a wide range of bio-based and circular economy innovations. In addition to extensive opportunities for professional development offered within NUI Galway’s School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, the PhD student will have the opportunity to engage with PhD and postdoc students in a wider international network applying advanced LCA to, inter alia: plant-based proteins>, livestock systems3,4, cascading wood value chains5, national land sectors1, advanced construction materials, bioplastics6,7, grass biorefineries, bioenergy carbon capture & storage8.
What is funded
The Fellowship is available to commence in October 2022, and covers university fees plus a tax-free stipend over four years (€16,000-€18,500 per annum).
Duration
October 2022 to October 2026
Eligibility
The successful candidate will meet the following requirements:
Essential Requirements
- Good primary degree (or MSc) in a related discipline (Science, Engineering, Computer modelling, etc.)
- Excellent numerical skills
- Excellent communication in English
- Knowledge of relevant bio-based value chains
- Knowledge of life cycle assessment
Desirable requirements
- Experience applying LCA
- Previous use of openLCA or similar software
- Coding skills
- Knowledge of greenhouse gas and ammonia emission sources
Attachments
Funded PhD Advert 
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