MSc Student Positions Available Starting May 2017, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Project title #1: Understanding soil health in horticultural and agricultural soils

Co-supervisors: Dr. Kate Congreves and Dr. Melissa Arcand

Project description: 

The proposed research will examine how different horticultural & agricultural practices have influenced soil health, and will identify which key soil attributes are most important in determining soil health. This project will focus on a unique set of long-term trials at the University of Saskatchewan, which have continuously produced either vegetables, fruit, or grains for the past several decades. The project will engage a MSc student in field work (soil sample collection), lab work (analysis for numerous soil attributes such as nutrients, organic matter, aggregate stability, etc.), data integration and interpretation (soil health scoring). The candidate will have opportunities to interact with horticultural producers, provincial and federal government researchers, other graduate students and researchers within the Dept. of Plant Sciences and the Dept. of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. 

Project title #2: Understanding nutrient dynamics in diverse vs simple crop rotations

Co-supervisors: Dr. Kate Congreves and Dr. Richard Farrell

Project description: The proposed research will examine crop residue decomposition and soil nutrient dynamics in simplified vs diversified crop rotations. This project will employ ¹⁵N tracer techniques to understand nitrogen transformation and loss from above- vs below-ground crop residues over time, and will focus on a ~30yr field trial located at the University of Guelph. The project will engage a MSc student in field work (plant sampling, soil sampling, and greenhouse gas sample collection), lab work (analysis for plant nitrogen, soil mineral nitrogen, organic nitrogen, and nitrous oxide emissions), data integration and interpretation. The candidate will have opportunities to interact with agricultural producers, government researchers, other graduate students, and researchers within the Dept. of Plant Sciences & Dept. of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan, and also at the University of Guelph (Dept. of Plant Agriculture & the School of Environmental Sciences).

To apply for either position, please send your unofficial transcripts, CV and names of two references to: Dr. Kate Congreves, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Qualifications: Applicants should hold a Bachelor’s degree with a strong background in natural or agricultural sciences. Expertise in agriculture, horticulture, soil, and plant science is desired. 

MSc stipend: $21,000 per year, for a maximum of two years starting May 2017. Note there are scholarship and teaching assistant opportunities to supplement the stipend beyond this base level.

Dr. Kate A. Congreves, Assistant Professor

Horticulture: Soil Health, Biogeochemistry & Crop Nutrition 

    Associate Editor, Canadian Journal of Plant Science

    Department of Plant Sciences

    College of Agriculture and Bioresources

    University of Saskatchewan

    51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon SK

    Office: 2C18 Agriculture Bldg

    Tel: (306) 966-8001

    Twitter: @KateCongreves

    agbio.usask.ca  

  Celebrating 100+ YEARS AGBIO