Maja Rydgård

Where do you call home?  Can you describe it?

I come from the south of Sweden. I grew up in a village called Genarp, which is surrounded by agricultural land on one side and forest on the other side. It is an ideal place for families, with beautiful nature just around the corner but also commuting distance to two of the largest cities of southern Sweden: Malmö and Lund. The two cities also feel like home to me. I studied in Lund and now I am living in Malmö with my boyfriend, from where I commute across the Øresund bridge to Copenhagen. Apart from Sweden, I also feel like Spain is almost like a second home country, where I have studied and worked in several periods in different places. I really enjoy the culture, the language and the sun!

What are some of your personal interests and hobbies? 

I am really the outdoorsy type, I prefer spending my spare time horse riding or going for a run or a walk in the forest. I also enjoy cooking, reading and spending time with my dearest ones.

What is your biggest personal achievement so far? 

Getting the job as a PhD fellow! I was very happy and proud to obtain this position. I received the job offer the day before I presented my Master Thesis. After having worked hard with preparing for the job interview while also finishing my thesis, I was very happy to achieve both goals.

What is the title of your PhD project?  Can you explain it to a non-academic?

The title is ‘Calculating life cycle inventory factors & conducting life cycle assessments of bio-based fertilizers’. It is about comparing systems for recycling of nutrients in waste streams, looking at how all the stages in a life cycle affect the environment. This includes technologies for processing of a residue into a bio-based fertilizer, transportation and spreading in an agricultural field, and the subsequent emissions and agronomic impacts. Ultimately, the aim is to support decision making so that investments can be made in the most environmental friendly technologies.

What drives your interest in bio-based fertilisers?

The use of bio-based fertilizers can enhance recycling and reduce the need for extraction of virgin phosphorus from mines, which is a limited resource, as well as production of nitrogen fertilizers, which requires large amounts of energy. Thus, bio-based fertilizers can be an important part of the solution to develop a more sustainable agricultural system. Developing the agricultural system to become more sustainable is key for securing future food production for the human population, as well as to reduce negative impacts on the climate and the environment. This is the main reason why I am so motivated to work in this field. On top of that, I also truly enjoy the interdisciplinary system thinking and learning about how things are connected, including everything from technology development to the chemistry and processes in the soil, to large-scale environmental impacts.

Describe your experience with the FertiCycle ITN so far?

It is great to be part of a network of other young scientists, as well as experienced researchers. Among the ESRs, we have regular online meetings with a mix of work-related discussions and just chatting. Despite having met mostly online, it feels like we have gotten to know each other very well. The atmosphere in the whole ITN is very positive and open for collaboration.

What would you say are the benefits of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship?

The project is very well organized and well funded. The training, including several courses, helps to give a wide perspective on the topic of our research, as well as to prepare us for our next career steps by providing training in for example project management, intellectual property rights and innovation.

How has the experience traveling abroad for this program been for you?

The travel to Copenhagen is not very far, neither in distance nor in culture. Currently I am doing my secondment in the Netherlands, where I have been very warmly welcomed, especially by my project colleagues. It is great to be here in the charming little city of Wageningen and exploring the country on the weekends.