Dr. Nicholas J Cowan

Dr Nicholas Cowan is an early career researcher with 5 years of post-doctorate research experience, having completed a PhD with the University of Edinburgh and CEH Edinburgh (2014) followed by a three year skills development program provided through the CEH Research Associates Programme (2014 – 2017). His track record is rapidly expanding in the field of GHG measurements and agricultural pollution, with particular distinction in the field of nitrous oxide measurement methodology, the application of the eddy covariance flux measurement method and the advancement of environmental data analysis.

Dr Cowan’s main focus of research is studying nitrogen pollution released from agricultural systems as a consequence of management practices. This research has concentrated on measurements of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O) as well as emissions of ammonia (NH₃) and the leaching of nitrates (NO₃) into ground waters. His work aims to identify and quantify potential sources of pollution from agricultural practices with an eventual objective of developing feasible mitigation strategies to reduce nitrogen pollution at a regional scale.

Previous research includes having worked extensively on DEFRA (GHGPlatform inveN2Ory – verification of N₂O flux measurements, 2010-2015), NERC (Greenhouse Gas program ‘Generating regional emission estimates with a novel hierarchy of observations and upscaled simulations’ (GREENHOUSE), 2013 – 2017), and BBSRC (Newton: UK - China Virtual Joint Centre for Improved Nitrogen Agronomy (CINAG), 2015-2019) research projects. He has presented work at numerous international conferences and worked for extended periods across the UK carrying out agricultural greenhouse gas flux measurements, and overseas in China on atmospheric measurements of urban ammonia measurements and India on the BBSRC projects CINAg and India-UK.

He has extensive expertise in field measurements and data analysis. He is an expert in the use of infra-red spectroscopy instrumentation, micrometeorology, gas chromatography, nitrogen pollution, heavy metal analysis and the chemical analysis of nutrients in soils and water samples.

Current research includes working on nutrient efficient agriculture, greenhouse gas accounting, plastic degradation, heat recovery experimentation from compost, the development of efficient controlled-environment agriculture and the study of potential efficiency saving interactions between industrial scale food production systems.

• Currently working in Atmospheric Physicist/Chemist role at CEH Edinburgh ( 2017 - Present)

Working on The UK-China Virtual Joint Centre for Improved Nitrogen Agronomy (CINAg) project

Lab manager/supervisor for CEH Edinburgh Soils lab and SEAL AQ2 analyzer

Supervising Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) instrument at Easter Bush eddy covariance field site

• Completed Post-Doctoral Research Associate Training Program at CEH Edinburgh (2014 - 2017)

• PhD in Geosciences at University of Edinburgh / CEH Edinburgh (2011 - 2014)

Study funded by the Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research Platform: InveN2Ory ResearCH4 and Synthesis project

PhD thesis titled "Spatial Variability of Nitrous Oxide Flux Measurements at the Plot, Field and Farm Scale"

• MSc in Chemistry with Environmental Chemistry with Business Management at University of Edinburgh (2015 - 2011)

MSc thesis titled "The Heavy Metal Content of Road Dust in Rural and Urban Areas"

• Data Analysis Expertise Includes:

Experienced coder for the "R" statistical software program

Application of bayesian statistics for uncertainty analysis

Eddy Covariance data processing

• Instrument Expertise Includes:

SEAL AQ2 colourimetry analyzer

VF5207 NFT vertical farming equipment

Aerodyne fast-response quantum cascade laser (QCL) for the measurement of trace gases using the eddy covariance and fast-chamber methods

Li-Cor open path rapid gas analyzers (LI-7500, LI-7700)

Gas Chromatograph instrument for the measurement of greenhouse gases

Campbell Scientific C-SAT sonic anemometer and  logging equipment