ProfessorOlaf Schmidt
Professor
School of Agriculture and Food Science
Orcid identifier0000-0003-0098-7960 (opens in a new tab)
- ProfessorSchool of Agriculture and Food Science
- 01 716 7076
- University College Dublin, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Agriculture and Food Science Belfield Dublin 4
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My main research interests are in soil science, in particular in the biology, biodiversity, ecology and biochemistry of soils in the context of soil-plant-animal systems. I especially like earthworms as a study subject, I have been fascinated by their ecology and adaptations to life in soil for a long time. I also research invertebrate pests of plants and how to manage them.
I have another active research area in meat authentication and livestock traceability, based on stable isotope ratio analysis and in collaboration with meat biochemists and animal scientists.
Keywords: Biology and ecology of soils; carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycling in terrestrial soil-plant-animal systems; stable isotope ratio techniques in soil research, animal ecology and food authentication; crop pest management.
I have another active research area in meat authentication and livestock traceability, based on stable isotope ratio analysis and in collaboration with meat biochemists and animal scientists.
Keywords: Biology and ecology of soils; carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycling in terrestrial soil-plant-animal systems; stable isotope ratio techniques in soil research, animal ecology and food authentication; crop pest management.
GRANTS
- PROJECT GRANTSoilRise: Raising awareness for soil biodiversity and multiplying monitoring by student-based Citizen ScienceEnvironmental Protection Agency (Epa)1 Mar 2024 - 1 Mar 2028People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- OTHER GRANTCharacterising and mapping relationships between Tellus soil geochemistry data and rapidly-assessed soil biodiversity in Ireland (TellSoilBio)Dept. Agriculture Food and the Marine (Dafm)6 Dec 2023 - 31 Dec 2024People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- GRANTIsotope tracing to identify the role of earthworms in the novel N-cycle shortcut and nutrient cycle linkagesIrish Research Council (IRC)1 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2027People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- GRANTIntegrating SOil Biodiversity to Ecosystem Services: testing cost-effectiveness of soil indicators to build better land management solutions that effectively implement the soil health and food mission (SOB4ES)Horizon Europe1 Jun 2023 - 31 May 2028People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O,
- Stanley D,
- Caruso T,
- Puri A
- GRANTCharacterising and mapping relationships between Tellus soil geochemistry data and rapidly-assessed soil biodiversity in Ireland (TellSoilBio)Environmental Protection Agency (Epa)1 Mar 2023 - 1 May 2026People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- GRANTTransforming pasture-based livestock systems through improved design of multi-species mixtures under reduced-nitrogen regimes (Multi4More)Dept. Agriculture Food and the Marine (Dafm)1 Jul 2022 - 30 Jun 2027People funded by this grant:
- Sheridan H,
- Schmidt O
- OTHER GRANTSupporting a sustainable transition away from peat-use in mushroom casing (S-Transit)Teagasc1 Oct 2021 - 30 Sep 2025People funded by this grant:
- Tracy S,
- Schmidt O
- GRANTSoil Compaction - evaluating the effects of remediation strategies on soil nutrients plants and waterTeagasc1 Jan 2020 - 31 Dec 2023People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O,
- Tracy S
- GRANTAnnelid survey Killarney National ParkDept. of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht21 Nov 2019 - 31 Jan 2020People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- GRANTGreen Infrastructure pilot projects in Dublin: Hydraulic efficacy biodiversity benefits experimental optimizations and flood defence modellingIrish Research Council (IRC)1 Mar 2019 - 28 Feb 2023People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- OTHER GRANTEvaluating the potential of leguminous cover crops to reduce fertiliser N requirements of cereal cropsTeagasc1 Oct 2018 - 30 Sep 2022People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- GRANTSoils for Society (1-Day Conference)Environmental Protection Agency (Epa)26 Jul 2018 - 31 Mar 2019People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- GRANTBiological studies on the invasive plant species Gunnera tinctoriaRoyal Embassy of Saudi Arabia1 Jul 2018 - 30 Jun 2019People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- GRANTH2020 Societal Challenge 2 InfoweekEnterprise Ireland (EI)6 Nov 2017 - 5 May 2018People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- GRANTBiological control of soil structural integrityTeagasc1 Sep 2016 - 31 Aug 2017People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- GRANTDistinguishing milk from pasture-fed versus concentrate-fed cowsGlanbia Ingredients Ireland Ltd1 Mar 2015 - 29 Feb 2020People funded by this grant:
- Monahan F,
- Evans A,
- Schmidt O
- GRANTEstablishing a Platform for IPM in Irish CropsDept. Agriculture Food and the Marine (Dafm)1 Dec 2014 - 30 Nov 2018People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- GRANTEnterprise Ireland H2020 Travel Support SchemeEnterprise Ireland (EI)29 May 2014 - 28 Nov 2014People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- GRANTSoil Quality Assessment and ResearchDept. Agriculture Food and the Marine (Dafm)1 Dec 2013 - 30 Nov 2017People funded by this grant:
- Holden N,
- Schmidt O
- GRANTInteractions of earthworms and soil organic matterIrish Research Council (IRC)1 Mar 2013 - 28 Feb 2014People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- GRANTGreen Novel Approach for Weevil Control (GNAW-Control)Dept. of Agriculture Fisheries & Food (Daff)1 Dec 2011 - 1 Jun 2015People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O
- OTHER GRANTEcoFinders - Ecological Function and Biodiversity Indicators in European SoilsEc Framework (Fp7)1 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2014People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O,
- Bolger T
- GRANTDevelopment of novel Si-based 'green' insecticides for commercial forestry plantationsUniversity College Dublin (UCD)1 Sep 2010 - 31 Aug 2014People funded by this grant:
- Schmidt O,
- McDermott F