Project Description

Primary Supervisor - Professor Brian Reid

Nature-based solutions (NBS) delivered through land-use change can create new habitats, enhance biodiversity, and increase carbon sequestration at landscape scales. Your research will build upon the UKRI OpenLAND project (£4m - 2024-27 - https://tyndall.ac.uk/projects/openland/) to provide new insights into the molecular and ecological mechanisms through which NBS influence soil carbon and microbiome.

In this project, you will assess soil carbon stocks, carbon stability, and soil microbiome responses during landscape transition. Beyond the rolling program of ARIES cohort training, you will receive research specific training in i) dry combustion and thermogravimetric analysis to quantify carbon flows, carbon quality, soil carbon stocks and their entrained energy, and ii) molecular ecology techniques including eDNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing to characterise soil microbial communities as well as habitat classification for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). By integrating these approaches, you will investigate how changes in vegetation and land use alter the quantity, quality, and energy value of carbon entering soils, and how these shifts influence microbial community structure and function. Your research seeks to evidence, yet unknown, linkages that connect below ground and above ground BNG.

This CASE studentship is aligned with active Landscape Recovery projects, providing a unique opportunity to conduct research within real-world environmental restoration programmes. The Wendling Beck Nature Recovery Project (https://www.wendlingbeck.org/, partners in the OpenLAND) and are providing CASE support for this studentship. Through placements with organisations working at the forefront of landscape recovery, you will gain practical experience and direct exposure to the challenges and opportunities associated with large-scale habitat creation and ecosystem restoration. These experiences will deliver further training and enhance your future employability.

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual who is excited by both field and laboratory research.

Applicants should have a strong interest in soil science, ecology, environmental change, microbiology, and ideally possess experience in the assessment of environmental media (soils, sediments, water, or related materials), microbiome profiling and bioinformatics. A willingness to work across disciplinary boundaries and engage with both fundamental science and applied environmental challenges would be highly advantageous.

Entry Requirements

At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).

Funding

ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions(opens in a new window). Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£21,805 p.a. for 2026/27) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.

ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion(opens in a new window) in all areas of its operation. We encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Projects have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive and appropriate research and fieldwork environment. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, with equal weighting given to experience and potential.

After submitting their application for the relevant ARIES project(s), applicants are expected to complete the ARIES Equality and Diversity Form Applicants - 2027 Entry – Fill in form(opens in a new window).One form is required per application, so applicants applying to more than one project must complete a separate form for each.

Please visit www.aries-dtp.ac.uk(opens in a new window) for further information.

References

Zhe H. Weng, Z.H., Dalal, R.C., Reid, B.J., Zhu, Y.G., McLaren, T.I., McKenna, B.A., Barnard, M., Doolette, C.L., Lombi, E., Friedl, J., Kopittke, P.M. (2025) Changes in carbon functional groups and their in situ microscale distribution under long-term continuous cropping. EGUsphere, 2025, 1-22.

Bahram, M., Lehtovirta-Morley, L., Mikryukov, V., Sveen, T.R., Grant, A., Pent, M., Hildebrand, F.,

Labouyrie, M., Köninger, J., Tedersoo, L., Jones, A., Panagos, P., Orgiazzi, A. (2026) “Intensive Land Use Enhances Soil Ammonia-Oxidising Archaea at a Continental Scale.” Soil Biology and Biochemistry 213: 110024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110024.

Ling, L., Fu, Y., Jeewani, P.H., Tang, C., Pan, S., Reid, B.J., Gunina, A., Li, Y., Li, Y., Cai, Y., Kuzyakov, Y., Li, Y., Su, W.Q., Singh, B.P., Luo, Y., Xu, J., (2021) Organic matter chemistry and bacterial community structure regulate decomposition processes in post-fire forest soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 160, 108311.

Gabin, P., Allison, S.D., Bahram, M., Hildebrand, F., Martiny, J.B.H., Treseder, K.K., Martiny, A.C. (2023) Life History Strategies of Soil Bacterial Communities across Global Terrestrial Biomes. Nature Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01465-0.

Keenor, S.G., Lee, R., Reid B.J. (2025) Physical protection of soil carbon stocks under regenerative agriculture. Soil, 11, 957-973.

Soil carbon and soil health through landscape transition (REID_EI_AREIS27_CASE)

Welcome to Norwich

Project Description

Entry Requirements

Funding

References