PhD Studentship: Using Next Generation Nitrogen Sources for Producing Spring Malting Barley and Its Impact on Yield and Grain Malt Quality

Supervisor: Dr John Foulkes (Brewing Science)

Secondary Supervisor: Dr Guillermina Mendiondo (Brewing Science), Joe Bevan (Technical Innovation Manager, Molson Coors Beverage Company)

Research Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to study for a PhD sponsored by Molson Coors Beverage Company and the BBSRC as a part of a collaborative training centre (‘BARIToNE’) focused on assuring the future sustainable supply of UK malting barley. This project falls under the ‘reduced inputs’ theme of BARIToNE.
Malted barley is the single largest dry ingredient in brewing beer. Optimizing barley production and enhancing the production of tons of barley per hectare while increasing barley quality simultaneously are essential to developing the most sustainable barley supply chain globally. Presently, nitrogen fertilizers contribute 50-70% of greenhouse gas emissions associated with barley production. This project will assess the impacts that new nitrogen fertilizers will have on barley yield and malt quality to improve the N-use efficiency (NUE) and hence sustainability of barley supply. You will also investigate the use of nitrification inhibitors which can be added to N-based fertilizer to reduce losses and improve use efficiency. Nitrification inhibitors inhibit the biological oxidation of ammonium to nitrate, thus extending the time the active nitrogen component of the fertilizer remains in the soil as ammonium-N.
We hypothesise that barley cultivars will respond differently to these new and different nitrogen fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors and that the resulting malt will have end use quality differences and parameters and that a genetic by environment (treatment) interaction will be observed.
This project includes the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience working with Molson Coors Beverage Company for a period of 3-6 months. Full training will be given in the required techniques and practices; this studentship would ideally be suited to a graduate with skills in plant or crop science and molecular biology.

Award Start Date: 01/10/2024

Duration of Award: 48 months

Terms and Conditions

This research studentship is only available to UK citizens and includes full payment of Tuition Fees and a tax-free student stipend paid at UKRI rates (starting at £19,237 in 24/5).

Applicant Qualification Requirements

BSc (Hons) 2i or above, or MSci/MChem (Hons) 2i or above or MSc in a relevant scientific discipline (examples include plant or crop science, environmental science or related subject).

How to Apply

Candidates are welcome to contact Dr John Foulkes (John.Foulkes@nottingham.ac.uk) with any queries and for an informal discussion.
Because this PhD is part of the BARIToNE Doctoral Training Centre, you must apply to the BARIToNE training programme for Project code 24B using the online pre-application form linked here. The advertised deadline is 31st May, but interviews will be arranged as soon as eligible candidates apply.
Closing Date: 31/05/2024

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