Our 2023 student research topics are:

• Biochar effects on the soil sponge function. Our field site in a sown biodiverse pasture near Covilhã has been installed with equipment to monitor the soil sponge function in a unique way. Twenty plots - 10 with natural rainfall and 10 where 50% of the rainfall is excluded by rainout shelters - are instrumented with Sentek Drill&Drop sensors that log soil moisture data at six depths every ten minutes. These data will allow modelling the sponge function, including groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration. This topic would suit someone who likes to combine field visits with learning how to construct and analyse large data sets, and is part of the SOILCOMBAT project.

• Microclimate influence on soil temperature dynamics. Vegetation canopies influence the link between air and soil temperature via their micro-climate, but the extent to which this occurs is an important gap in the current scientific understanding. Our field site in a sown biodiverse pasture near Covilhã has been installed with equipment to monitor the microclimate in a unique way. Twenty plots - 10 with natural rainfall and 10 where 50% of the rainfall is excluded by rainout shelters - are instrumented with TOMST TMS-4 Extreme probes that log temperature data at +15, +2, and -6 cm every ten minutes, and Sentek Drill&Drop sensors monitor soil temperature at 10 cm intervals down to -55 cm. This topic would suit someone who likes to combine field visits and learn how to construct and analyse large data sets, and is part of the SOILCOMBAT and POLLINATE projects.

• Sustainability screening of biochar from olive mill wastes (OMW). Biochars will be produced from OMW, largely olive stone mixed with olive pulp by pyrolysis, under a range of conditions in the DAO-UA laboratory continuous feed pyrolysis reactor. To find out what the maximum sustainable application rate of these biochars to the soil is, you will screen incubated amended-soil samples for key indicators of the soil habitat function. These may include germination assays, soil enzymatic activity, early plant growth, soil pH and EC, rooting activity, nutrient availability, earthworm avoidance, etc. This topic would suit someone with a keen interest in sustainability and in learning new laboratory techniques. This topic is part of the SOLVO project.

• Bioturbation in hard-setting soils. Bioturbation is the biogenic transport of soils and sediments by animal and plant activities. Hard-setting soils become hard, structureless masses when they dry out, making cultivation difficult until the profile is rewetted, which is a growing problem for agriculture around the world. We want to find out how animal bioturbation works in hard-setting soils and test whether biochar application can benefit this natural process in these soils by allowing them to retain more water. This topic is suitable as a thesis for MSc students in Biology or Environmental Science with experience in laboratory procedures and knowledge of live animal experiments. Applicants are encouraged to send their CV and a letter of motivation to joaopuga@ua.pt by xx-yy-2023. Pre-selected applicants who meet the criteria will then be invited for an interview.

• Biochar effects on soil fauna communities in pastures and montado. Biochar is used for enhancing water retention in soils, being particularly important in agricultural areas where soils are degraded by unsustainable management and the pressure of desertification. Despite biochar being an increasingly used regenerative agricultural measure, it also has the potential to induce negative effects in fauna and flora. We want to find out how biochar affects the soil invertebrate community structure and function in pastures and montado. This topic is suitable as a project/thesis for BSc/MSc students in Biology or Environmental Science that want to start research in soil science and ecology. Applicants are encouraged to send their CV and a letter of motivation to joaopuga@ua.pt by xx-yy-2023. Pre-selected applicants who meet the criteria will then be invited for an interview.

Biocharcology team in action

Student testimonials

"I would first show my gratitude to my supervisors, Dr. Ana Catarina Bastos, Dr. Franciscus Verheijen and Dr. Ana Luisa Caetano, for their constant help, the joy they brought and for enduring my endless questions and fears. We developed bonds that I want to keep! Lili, thanks a lot for the help you provided me for several exhausting tasks, it made it way more enjoyable! Overall, I want to thank all the other people that I met in the University of Aveiro: I learnt a lot and had a great time with you !"

Anselme Haugou (2022)

"I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Frank Verheijen for his invaluable guidance and unlimited support. From the first day of the internship to the day of delivering the thesis he was open for questions, whether they were big problems or only minor issues. I couldn’t have imagined better supervision for writing my first thesis and I am confident that I will remember and use many of his lessons in my further studies and career."

Hugo Braas (2022)

"I would like to express my profound gratitude to Frank G.A. Verheijen for the invaluable guidance. The opportunity to study for this master thesis was given by Frank G.A. Verheijen who willingly agreed to supervise me. Words are not enough to describe my appreciation for him. Sincere gratitude goes to him for the guidance, commitment, willingness to help on even the most minor issues, and constructive criticism during the execution of this work. Besides, I would like to thank Oscar Gonzales Pelayo for his support and guidance during my master thesis."

Sami Ul-Haq (2021)

"First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisors, Frank, Markéta and Isabel, who have always shown me patient and kindness. The most kind persons I could have asked to have met. All of their guidance and supervision throughout the development of my diploma thesis, valuable critiques and especially, for all the time spent on teaching me."

Suyan Roberta Isaka (2021)