Godswill Hygienus
I am a PhD researcher in the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in General Agriculture and a Master of Philosophy in Crop Science. My MPhil focused on identifying drought-tolerant okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) varieties and evaluating the effectiveness of oil palm empty fruit bunch biochar in mitigating drought stress in okra production.
My PhD explores how alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation influences soil biogeochemistry, root traits, and rice grain quality. Specifically, my work examines changes in total elemental concentrations, chemical speciation, natural nanoparticle formation, root system architecture, root hair development, rhizosheath formation, and microscale solid-phase elemental heterogeneity at the soil–root interface. By integrating these processes, I aim to advance understanding of the mechanisms governing nutrient availability, grain nutritional quality, and the accumulation of potentially toxic elements in rice cultivated under AWD management. To address these objectives, I employ a range of advanced analytical approaches, including Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Laser Ablation ICP-MS, and Ion Chromatography ICP-MS.
My broader research interests centre on advancing climate-resilient agri-food systems, sustainable agricultural production, and global food security.
Outside academia, I actively participates in voluntary and community engagement activities. I also enjoy football, athletics and tennis.