PhD Position in Soil Health and Biodiversity Analysis in Agrivoltaic Systems

This PhD position offers a unique opportunity to investigate the ecological impacts of integrating solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with sheep grazing systems. Based at the University of Limerick with secondments to University College Cork, the project will assess how combined agrivoltaics and livestock farming influence soil health, nutrient cycling, heavy metal accumulation, and biodiversity. The successful candidate will conduct large-scale fieldwork to analyze soil edaphic properties, microbial diversity, and greenhouse gas emissions, addressing critical knowledge gaps in sustainable land-use practices. The research aligns with global challenges in decarbonization and food security, offering hands-on experience in interdisciplinary environmental science. Supervision will be provided by Prof. Achim Schmalenberger, Prof. Ken Byrne, and Dr. Israel Ikoyi.

• Conduct large-scale fieldwork to assess soil nutrient and heavy metal concentrations under solar PV panels with and without sheep grazing.
• Analyze soil edaphic properties (e.g., pH, organic matter, texture) in different treatment plots (under panels, inter-row spaces).
• Investigate the impact of agrivoltaics and grazing on soil microbial communities (bacteria, fungi, protists, nematodes) using molecular techniques (16S, 18S, ITS).
• Measure soil-derived carbon dioxide and methane fluxes using field instrumentation.
• Assess earthworm abundance and diversity as indicators of soil health.
• Collaborate with partners at University College Cork for secondment and data integration.
• Present findings at national and international conferences and publish results in peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to project reporting and dissemination activities for stakeholders.