Sustainable solutions for nutrient management and soil health in agricultural systems

About the Project

We are seeking a motivated domestic and international PhD candidate to join a multidisciplinary research project investigating innovative approaches to improve nutrient management, soil health, and agricultural sustainability.

This project will evaluate a range of emerging biological and management solutions, including metabolites, synthetic microbial communities (SynComs), and other microbiomebased products designed to stimulate beneficial soil microbial activity and improve nutrient cycling efficiency in agricultural systems. The research will combine controlled glasshouse experiments with field-based validation to identify effective strategies that support soil function, nutrient use efficiency, and long-term soil health.

The project sits at the interface of soil microbiology, plantmicrobe interactions, agronomy, and sustainable agriculture, with strong collaboration between university researchers, growers, and industry partners.

The PhD candidate will contribute to evaluating how interventions influence beneficial microbial communities, nutrient dynamics, plant performance, and soil function under realistic agricultural conditions. The project will involve both glasshouse and field experiments, including trials conducted in collaboration with growers and industry partners.

Research activities may include:

• Soil and rhizosphere microbiome analyses
• Evaluation of microbial metabolites and SynCom applications
• Glasshouse and field experimentation
• Soil biological and physicochemical measurements
• Integrated nutrient and disease management assessments
• Statistical and bioinformatic analysis of complex ecological datasets

The successful candidate will help identify and recommend effective biological and management strategies that promote efficient nutrient management and long-term soil health in farming systems.