PhD in Agricultural Sciences at Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (Slovakia)

Key details

• Host institution: Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra
• Location: Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Trieda Andreja Hlinku 2, Nitra, Slovakia
• Application deadline: May 31, 2026

Funding

Not funded by a EU programme

Funding level (from listing): partial or not via EU framework — confirm on the official call.

How to apply

• Application portal / instructions: Official application link.
• Context on Euraxess: Original listing.

About the position

PhD Position: Impact of Climate Change-Induced Weather Extremes on Agro-Ecological Ecosystems

Institution: Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra

Supervisor: doc. Ing. Beáta Novotná, PhD.

Workplace: Institute of Landscape Engineering FHLE SUA in Nitra

Field of Study: Agriculture and Landscape

Study Program: Landscape Engineering

Form of Study: Full-time/Part-time

Thesis Description

Agricultural systems face the challenges of ensuring food security, adapting to, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Carbon storage at the ecosystem level and in soils offers the potential to offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which currently lack accurate in-situ validation methods. This PhD thesis aims to research and assess adaptation measures in the field of sustainable agriculture in response to global climate change. The thesis examines and quantifies how historical and future events associated mainly with the lack of available water for plants and high air temperatures change water use efficiency at the ecosystem level using observations of eddy covariance and microclimatic measurements in selected agricultural ecosystems.

Rationale

Global climate change is increasing the pressure on agriculture, which must simultaneously ensure food security and contribute to the rapid reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon storage is one of the key mitigation tools, but its real benefit is currently limited by insufficiently accurate and poorly validated in-situ monitoring methods, which weakens confidence in carbon credits and related policies. At the same time, we are facing an increase in drought and heat extremes, which fundamentally change the carbon and water cycle in agroecosystems and threaten the stability of production. The topic of the dissertation responds to these challenges by combining biogeophysical research (eddy covariance, microclimatic measurements) with practical adaptation measures in sustainable agriculture, while emphasizing water-use efficiency at the ecosystem level during historical and future episodes of drought and heat stress.

Financial Coverage

Submitted application APVV-25-0519: Increasing the Production Stability of Vineyard Ecosystems Affected by Climate Change for years 2026 – 2030