A Lincoln University Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) qualification will give you the opportunity to not only challenge yourself to new levels of thinking and problem solving, it will give you the knowledge and skills to create new land-based knowledge that will ultimately benefit society. Our goal is to provide you with a PhD programme that will have you working alongside professional and scientific individuals and organisations, and industry, throughout New Zealand and the world. There are many, many complex issues facing the land-based sectors across the globe and Lincoln's PhDs are helping to address them. You are challenged to join these great minds to make a difference. The range of research being undertaken is extensive and in recent years has increasingly focused on environmental issues, especially soil’s role and influence on water and air quality. The Department of Soil & Physical Sciences carries out research in the following specialist areas: • Agricultural greenhouse gas science • Measurement, mitigation and modelling • Antarctic soils • Environmental biogeochemistry • Nitrate leaching and mitigation • Remediation of contaminated soils • Rhizosphere process science • Soil and environmental physics • Soil biology, biochemistry and molecular biology • Soil fertility and nutrient management • Soil geomorphology, soils and water • Quaternary geology and soil-landscape modelling • Soil micromorphology • Soil nutrient cycling and management • Stable isotopes in environmental science • Sustainable land management • Trace elements in soils Summary of Regulations • Students are required to complete three-years of research. Coursework is not usually a component. However, students may be asked to complete some courses, or choose to do so, especially if unfamiliar with some aspect of the proposed research topic • Defend the PhD via an oral examination after it has been independently assessed.