PostDoc - Soil carbon modelling

Organisation Agroscope Reckenholz Tänikon

Zurich, Switzerland

Closing date: 24th November 2013

Description

Organisation Agroscope Reckenholz Tänikon, Research Station ART conducts research for an environmental friendly, competitive agriculture. We combine ecology, economy and agricultural technology in an integrated research approach and develop scientific based decision support for farmers, government authorities and society. At the Research Group Climate / Air Pollution, a position is available for a postdoctoral researcher with background in soil science and scientific modelling.

Your research will be assigned to two research projects funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, which combine experimental and modelling work. In these projects, the effects of land-use change and agricultural management on current and future soil and ecosystem carbon storage and dynamics are being assessed. You will be involved in the overall activities of two research clusters comprising c. 57 individuals and ongoing soil modelling activities. You will be using existing soil carbon models (e.g. RothC, Yasso) that need to be substantially extended in their functionality and applied to various field situations from different countries. The simulations will be based on i) existing data and ii) data collected by other members of these projects. The research includes i) simulation and model development using data from controlled experiments, incorporating 14C data; and ii) model applications to gradients in land-use and management intensity, and various management scenarios.

Requirements

University degree (diploma, MSc) and PhD in environmental sciences, geography, agriculture or forestry. Indepth expertise in process based soil carbon modelling, statistics, and good understanding of the suitability of radiocarbon as a tracer. Profound knowledge of R and computer languages (e.g., Fortran, C). Good communication and publication skills. Fluency in spoken and written English, knowledge of German is advantageous.

More information and applications

PostDoc salary according to the regulations of the Swiss National Science Foundation (min. CHF 85’000 p.a.). Working in a lively and international research group with crosscutting experimental and modelling work. Appointment for a minimum of 3 years with a probationary period of 3 months. The working place will be at Agroscope in Zurich-Affoltern. The position should start as soon as possible.

Closing date: 24 November 2013. Please mention the keyword “SOC-modelling” in your cover letter and send your application as pdf file including letter of motivation, CV, publication list, copies of your two most important papers, copies of degrees, and names and contact details of at least two referees to: Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART, Fachgruppe Personal, Thomas Zehnder, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zürich, Switzerland or to human_resources@art.admin.ch. We will acknowledge all applications, but we will contact only short-listed candidates.

For further information please contact: PD Dr. Jens Leifeld, Air Pollution / Climate Group, phone +41 44 377 7510, e-mail: jens.leifeld@agroscope.admin.ch (do not send applications to this e-mail).