Posted December 16, 2009

The Opportunity:
Phosphorus Chemistry and Dynamics in Long-Term Wheat Rotations

The Project:
Seeking a Ph.D. student who will be involved in a project to assess phosphorus (P) cycling in Canadian grassland systems. The selected candidate will take part in a cross-Canada project within the framework of the program “Sustainable Agricultural Environmental Systems (SAGES)” titled “Soil and plant phosphorus assessment and modeling in Canadian agro-ecosystems”.

The project investigates P forms and cycling in long-term wheat rotations, with and without long-term P fertilization, using ³¹P NMR spectroscopy and δ¹⁸O isotope fractionation. The student will be trained to use these techniques, and will develop a specific research project within the broader project.

The research will be conducted at the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Swift Current, SK, and at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, SK.

Qualifications:
The candidate must have obtained a M.Sc. in soil science or in a related field. He/She must meet all of the requirements for acceptance into the Ph.D. program in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. He/She must be motivated and self-reliant.

Starting Date: January 4, 2010

Stipend: $30,000 for three years

How to Apply:
Interested qualified candidates must apply by December 21 online at: http://jest-orae.psc-cfp.gc.ca/JEST-ORAE/advsrch.do?cnsrch=1&lang=en&p=10

For More Information: For more information, please contact:

Dr. Barbara Cade-Menun
Nutrient Cycling Scientist
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Telephone: 306-778-7245
Fax: 306-778-3188
Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre
Box 1030
Swift Current SK S9H 3X2 CANADA
Barbara.Cade-Menun@agr.gc.ca