Jo Smith

Professor Jo Smith is a Personal Chair at the University of Aberdeen’s School of Biological Sciences, specializing in systems modelling, soil organic matter dynamics, and nutrient management. With over two decades at Aberdeen and prior roles at Rothamsted Research and British Petroleum, Smith focuses on carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions, and agricultural sustainability.

Research interests include:

• Soil organic matter and nutrient dynamics in tropical, temperate, and nutrient-depleted soils
• Climate-smart agriculture across global regions
• Decision support systems for nitrogen fertilizer optimization
• Impact of organic resource use on poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Machine learning applications in predicting soil nutrient losses

Recent publications highlight trends in:

• Stable isotope analysis for agricultural water management
• Modelling carbon-nitrogen interactions in data-limited agroforestry systems
• Policy frameworks for regenerative agriculture and net-zero transitions
• Tropical peatland emissions and exclosure-based soil restoration
• High-lignin biofuel byproduct utilization for soil sustainability

Collaborations span institutions including:

• Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (nitrogen cycles, GHG measurements)
• Nanjing Agricultural University (biochar applications in China)
• Addis Ababa University (nutrient recycling in Ethiopia)
• Scottish Government (wind farm carbon calculator development)
• Makerere University (biogas impact studies in Uganda)

Teaching responsibilities include coordinating the Honours Essay course (BI4017/BI4517) and contributing to modules in ecology, environmental science, and risk assessment.