contribute to into sustainable agricultural systems.

This PhD project will focus on the role of hedgerows in climate change mitigation, with a particular emphasis on carbon sequestration in soils and biomass across European agricultural systems. Building on Biffi et al. (2023, 2025), which quantified carbon stocks and sequestration rates in hedgerow biomass and soils, the PhD will investigate how hedgerow structure, management practices, and landscape context influence carbon dynamics. The PhD will also contribute to a broader understanding of how hedgerows are managed across Europe, and how management decisions shape their delivery of multiple ecosystem services.

The project will be part of the EU Horizon Europe Climate Smart Research project, which provides access to 29 experimental farms across Europe. The candidate will work in a highly international setting, collaborating with partners in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark. This offers an exceptional opportunity to investigate hedgerows across diverse climates, soils, farming systems and management traditions, while contributing to evidence on the role of semi-natural habitats in functioning agricultural landscapes.

The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary research environment spanning agroecology, soil science, landscape ecology and climate change mitigation. They will gain expertise in field sampling, laboratory analysis, stakeholder engagement and quantitative modelling. This PhD offers an exciting opportunity to improve climate change mitigation estimates of agricultural practices and understanding of how hedgerow management can support ecosystem service provision, biodiversity-friendly farming and net-zero goals.

contribute to into sustainable agricultural systems.

This PhD project will focus on the role of hedgerows in climate change mitigation, with a particular emphasis on carbon sequestration in soils and biomass across European agricultural systems. Building on Biffi et al. (2023, 2025), which quantified carbon stocks and sequestration rates in hedgerow biomass and soils, the PhD will investigate how hedgerow structure, management practices, and landscape context influence carbon dynamics. The PhD will also contribute to a broader understanding of how hedgerows are managed across Europe, and how management decisions shape their delivery of multiple ecosystem services.

The project will be part of the EU Horizon Europe Climate Smart Research project, which provides access to 29 experimental farms across Europe. The candidate will work in a highly international setting, collaborating with partners in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark. This offers an exceptional opportunity to investigate hedgerows across diverse climates, soils, farming systems and management traditions, while contributing to evidence on the role of semi-natural habitats in functioning agricultural landscapes.

The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary research environment spanning agroecology, soil science, landscape ecology and climate change mitigation. They will gain expertise in field sampling, laboratory analysis, stakeholder engagement and quantitative modelling. This PhD offers an exciting opportunity to improve climate change mitigation estimates of agricultural practices and understanding of how hedgerow management can support ecosystem service provision, biodiversity-friendly farming and net-zero goals.