Microbiome-Enhanced Silicate Weathering
Duration of contract: 4 years
Planned starting date: ASAP
Place of work: University of Vienna
Main supervisor: Petra Pjevac (CV | Lab Homepage)
Supervision team: Andreas Richter, Stephan Krämer, Peter Hinterdorfer, Thomas Böttcher
Project description:
The PhD Student will investigate the effect of soil microorganisms and mineral/rock preparations (type of rock powder, grain size, aggregation state) on enhanced silicate weathering rates and weathering product. Mineral bag experiments will be performed in situ on the field to investigation microbe-mineral interactions on the micro-scale, including weathering, secondary mineral formation, and depleted layer formation in relationship to microbial colonization, and to beneficial identify microbial consortia that enhance weathering. Experimental setups will include microbial cultures and agricultural soil microcosm, where effects of microbial colonization, inoculations and microbiome transfer on enhanced silicate weathering and carbon sequestration will be analyzed and quantified.
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