The Soil-Root hydraulics lab is seeking a PhD student to study plant transpiration, a key driver of the continental water cycle. Predicting this evolution under changing climate conditions is challenging, as available soil water is the main constraint on transpiration, despite the demand for evapotranspiration influencing atmospheric conditions. This is a great opportunity for international students to study in Belgium.
Plant transpiration represents between 45 to 85% of the terrestrial fluxes and is, therefore, a key driver of the continental water cycle globally. Yet, predicting plant water transpiration evolution under a changing climate is still challenging. While the demand for evapotranspiration depends on the atmospheric conditions, available soil water, which controls the plant water supply, is the main constraint on transpiration.
Summary
| Position | PhD Student in Soil-Plant Hydraulics |
|---|---|
| Duration | 24 months (with possible 2-year extension) |
| Funding | Provided by FNRS (National Science Fund of Belgium) |
| Location | Earth and Life Institute, UCLouvain, Belgium |
| Application Deadline | ASAP |
| Research Focus | understanding the impact of soil and plant hydraulic properties on plant response to drought. |
Scholarship Description
In the UPSET project, systematic drought experiments will be conducted in different substrates to investigate how soil and plant hydraulic properties influence plant response to drought. The project aims to analyze short- and long-term mechanisms allowing plants to cope with soil hydric limitations.
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Eligibility
- Master’s degree in (bio)physics, bioscience engineering, mathematics, or soil/environmental physics.
- Experimental skills with plants.
- Experience with R, Matlab, or Python.
- Proficiency in English.
Required Documents: Candidates must submit:
- A detailed CV
- Academic transcripts of their Master’s degree
- A motivation letter
- One reference letter (all included in one PDF file).
How to Apply: Interested candidates should send the required documents to Mathieu Javaux (mathieu.javaux@uclouvain.be) as soon as possible.
Last Date: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Apply ASAP for consideration.
