PostDoc - Forestry research

The School of Agriculture and Food Science, UCD Forestry 

Ireland

Description

The School of Agriculture and Food Science, UCD Forestry is seeking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for up to 24 Months.

The overall demand for roundwood in Ireland is expected to increase from to an estimated net realisable volume of 85 Mm3 . There will be an increase in the timber traffic on public roads, in accordance with this forecasted increase in timber supply. Therefore, a more sustainable, safer and cost effective approach in the form of a GIS based agreed routes map is needed to manage the transport of this increased woodflow. This map will be used by timber hauliers as part of the timber extraction planning process. The routes will be agreed between local authorities and district forest managers and private forest owners, identifying the strongest and safest routes, to avoid increased congestion around small towns and villages, reduce excess wear and tear on vulnerable roads and avoid excessive weight across roads. The development of the road database and GIS map will look at developing a road cost matrix to determine whether timber access routes are either fail or based on 4 main criteria - agreed routes, consultation routes, severely restricted routes and excluded routes. In addition, this map will be used to identify important routes that need maintenance and

upgrading work. A mobile app RouteTagger will also be developed to help build a database of road conditions, primarily for the lower class timber access routes for use in planning for all state and private harvesting sites.

PostDoc & fellowship - Forest resources management planning

University of Lisbon

Portugal

Closing date: 07/03/2014

Description and more information

The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment of the School of Agriculture of the University of Lisbon welcomes applications to 1 scholarship for a PhD holder and 2 scholarships for MSc holders. The focus of the research is on forest resources management planning. Details about the positions may be checked at:

*http://www.isa.ulisboa.pt/vida-no-isa/destaques/concursos-bolsas-premios-outros/20140214-call-of-applications-for-a-phd-scholarship

This is a *Post Doc scholarship* and not a PhD scholarship.

*http://www.isa.ulisboa.pt/vida-no-isa/destaques/concursos-bolsas-premios-outros/20140214-call-of-applications-to-a-scholarship-for-master-of-science-holder

*http://www.isa.ulisboa.pt/vida-no-isa/destaques/concursos-bolsas-premios-outros/20140214-call-of-applications-to-a-scholarship-for-master-of-science-holder-2

PostDoc - Green tree retention at clearcuts

SLU Uppsala

Sweden

Closing date: 23rd February 2014.

Description

Project description: The overall objective of this research project is to analyze the consequences of intensified forest management and conservation efforts conducted in managed forests. The results will be used when formulating recommendations about how to improve the current practice, to mitigate the negative effects on biodiversity of forestry. Field data is already available, so the post doc will focus on analyses and writing. A first project deals with tree mortality when trees are retained on clearcuts. When that project is finished, the post doc can chose between several options: (i) to analyze the occurrence of redlisted beetles on dead trees on clearcuts in relation with characteristics of the surrounding landscape, (ii) to analyze the conservation value of low-productive forests in relation to more productive forests, by comparing the availability of structures important for biodiversity, (iii) something else which comes up during the visit at SLU, or based on material the post doc has available. The post doc will be part of a group who conducts policy-relevant research on forestry and biodiversity (http://www.slu.se/en/departments/ecology/research/conservation-biology/). Thomas Ranius (http://www.slu.se/en/departments/ecology/hemsidor/ranius-thomas/) will be the host for the post doc, and Victor Johansson (http://www.slu.se/en/departments/ecology/hemsidor/johansson-victor-/) may help especially with statistical analyses. Several other people will also be involved in these projects. More information can be obtained from Thomas Ranius via email.

PhD - Land change science

Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of Science

University of Copenhagen, Denmark

The deadline for applications is 14.02.2014

Description

The Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen is offering a PhD scholarship in land change science commencing 01.05.2014 or as soon as possible thereafter.

 The position will contribute to the EU-FP7-funded project “Agroforestry that will advance rural development (AGFORWARD)”. The project offers unique opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation around agroforestry systems in Europe within a group of researchers from 27 partner institutions.

 The PhD project aims to analyze the driving forces of land-use change and their impacts on the provision of ecosystem services in various agroforestry systems in Europe. With space for pursuing individual interests, the PhD project will:

·         contribute to a synthesis of the existing knowledge on the drivers of land-use change in European agroforestry systems.

·         identify the causal chain of land-use dynamics in agroforestry systems by evaluating existing data from various sources.

·         analyze the impacts of these land-use changes on a set of ecosystem services at landscape scale.

Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Tobias Plieninger, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, E-mail: tobias.plieninger@ign.ku.dk, Direct Phone: (+45) 353 36782.

Your key tasks as a PhD student at Science are:

·         Performance of a research project, including fieldwork

·         Writing of scientific articles and a PhD thesis

·         Project coordination and management

·         Attendance of PhD courses and congresses

·         Teaching and dissemination of research

PhD - Remote sensing

Department of Geography, University of Calgary

Calgary, Canada

Deadline date: January 26, 2014

Description

The Foothills Facility for Remote Sensing and GIScience (www.ucalgary.ca/f3gisci), a research lab within the Department of Geography, University of Calgary, is seeking MSc and PhD candidates for several fully‐funded positions starting in the Fall of 2014.  

Contract - Assistant professor, rangeland ecology and management

Oregon State University (Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences)

La Grande, United States

Deadline date: 28/02/2014

Description

Responsibilities include teaching, advising, and interacting with undergraduate and graduate students; competing effectively for external funding; and working with stakeholders to implement a balanced program of fundamental and applied research directed toward the interactions of water, soil, vegetation, animals, and climate endemic to Eastern Oregon and regionally to the Northern Great Basin, Blue Mountains and Columbia Plateau. 

PhD - Climate change

McMaster University

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Deadline date: January 20th 2014

Description

McMaster Centre for Climate Change, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada is recruiting 6 PhD students as part of a newly funded project to explore the impacts of climate change, extreme weather events and forest management activities on carbon, water and nutrient cycle processes in an age-sequence of temperate forests in Southern Ontario, Canada. The sites are part of the Turkey Point Flux Station. You will join and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of scientists from McMaster, University of Toronto, Environment Canada, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Forest Service and Long Point Region Conservation Authority.

POSITION (NAMES OF POTENTIAL SUPERVISORS):

PhD student - Micrometeorological measurements (carbon and water fluxes) (Dr. Altaf Arain).

PhD student - Belowground biomass estimation, using Ground Penetrating Radar (Dr. Joe Boyce).

PhD student - Biometric and ecological measurements (Dr. Jing Chen, U of Toronto).

PhD student - C and N cycle modelling, using ecosystem land surface-atmosphere interaction models (Dr. Paul Bartlett and Dr. Altaf Arain).

PhD student - Catchment scale hydrologic modelling, using distributed hydrologic models (Dr. Paulin Coulibaly).

PhD student - Environmental and Economic Modelling: Integrating biological and economic models to evaluate the economic potential and vulnerability of intensively managed forests to climate change (Dr. Dan McKenney and Dr. Altaf Arain).

Requirements

A background in a relevant discipline such as: biogeosciences, climatology, economics, environmental science, forest science, forestry, hydrology, hydrologic or ecosystem modelling, or meteorology is required. Past experience in field work, data analysis, programming (for modelling students) and statistics is preferred. Five of the students will be located at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and one at University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

More information and applications

PhD - Computing-intensive landscape ecology applications

McGill University

Montreal, Canada

Deadline date: 15/12/2013

Description

The Computational Landscape Ecology group at McGill University is seeking MS and PhD students interested in computing-intensive landscape ecology applications. Students will join a dynamic and growing lab of graduate and undergraduate students working on a wide range of landscape ecology projects that demand a heavy component of computing power, including:

• Forest connectivity estimation and validation at regional and continental scales, using Circuitscape.
• Regional estimation of lake carbon content with remote sensing, GIS, and Bayesian stats in 10**6 lakes in Quebec.
• Use of Google Earth Engine for estimation of landscape-scale patterns across very large areas.
• Spatial and statistical patterns of landscape metrics at continental and regional scales.

Requirements

Successful candidates will have strong to moderate programming experience, ideally in R or Python or a similar language like Matlab or Java. Depending on the project, specific experience with certain tools will be of especially high value, including: remote sensing, GIS, simulation modeling, data mining techniques in very large data sets and coursework in statistics. Canadian students who would be eligible for federal and provincial scholarships are given high priority. 

More information and applications

PhD - Polarimetric SAR images for fuel moisture mapping

University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management

Canada

Description

Funded Ph.D. position for working on the use of polarimetric SAR images for fuel moisture mapping

We are seeking a highly motivated Ph.D. student who will work on calibrating a physics-based model to map the drought code of the Canadian Fire Weather Index from polarimetric SAR images. The model follows the method of Jagdhuber et al. 2011. (Proc. 5th Int. Workshop PolInSAR 2011, Frascati, Italy). The Ph.D. thesis will be based on data acquired over Canadian/South African natural grasslands, Alaska boreal forests and Canadian tundras.

The Ph.D. work will be supervised by Prof. Brigitte Leblon, (University of New Brunswick, Canada), Prof. Joseph Buckley (Royal Military College, Canada), Dr. Thomas Jagdhuber (DLR, Germany) and Dr. Laura Bourgeau-Chavez (Michigan Tech Research Institute, USA). Thereby, the hired student will be invited to travel among the various laboratories during his Ph.D. thesis. The study is a part of research project recently funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Requirements

Preference will be given to Canadian, US or European students because the candidate will be invited to do some thesis work at DLR (Germany) and MTRI (USA), but international students are encouraged to apply.

Applicants should have successfully completed an MSc and have a strong background in radar remote sensing, strong interest in computer coding, with interest in fire sciences.

It is critical the applicant has some ability to program computer code to facilitate data analysis, model development and implementation as well as good writing and oral skills. 

More information and applications

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

Contract for Department Head & Professor Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society

College of Forestry at Oregon State University

Corvallis, United States

Deadline date: November 15, 2013

Description

The College of Forestry at Oregon State University invites applications for the position of Professor and Department Head, in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society (FES). This is a 1.0 FTE, full time, 12-month, tenured position. The College of Forestry seeks an established and broad thinking scholar, an effective and inspiring leader, and a highly competent administrator for this position. FES is an energized and interdisciplinary department containing leading scholars whose expertise ranges from the biophysical to the social sciences, from policy to ethics.

Requirements

At least a PhD degree in biological, physical or social science field relevant to the department goals. A record of accomplishment which merits appointment as a full tenured professor. Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Strong administrative experience in areas such as personnel management, budget management and fund raising. Understanding of the research, teaching, and extended education functions of a Land Grant University. Demonstration of leadership potential through roles of continued responsibility for 2 or more years. A demonstrable commitment to creating a diverse workplace. Ability to work effectively with people at various levels of an organization. A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity. Applications will be accepted until November 15, 2013, for full consideration.

More information and applications

PhD - Dynamics of ecosystem services in forest ecosystems

Bournemouth University 

Dorset, United Kingdom

Description

The concept of ecosystem services (ES) - the benefits provided by ecosystems to people - has become the subject of major international scientific and policy focus. In the UK, results from the National Ecosystem Assessment have highlighted the exceptionally important role of forest ecosystems in provision of multiple ES. However, forests are becoming the focus of increasing concern, because of the combined effects of climate change, spread of novel pests and diseases, and widespread increases in browsing pressure. Such factors could potentially interact to fundamentally alter forest ecosystems, their associated biodiversity and the provision of ES, which could impact negatively on human livelihoods and the national economy. This project will therefore examine the dynamics of ES in selected forest landscapes, through the use of spatially explicit modelling approaches supported by appropriate field and laboratory research.

The scientific analysis of ecosystem services (ES) has developed rapidly in recent years. There has been a series of papers on this theme published in very high impact journals (Science, PNAS, Nature), including those produced by BU staff. The current project will lie at the cutting edge of this research, with its focus on mapping and valuing ES at the landscape scale, and exploring their dynamics using spatially explicit modelling approaches. This will enable trade-offs between different ES to be identified, an issue of high scientific value. However, the most significant contribution of this research could be in the analysis of tipping points in forest ecosystems, and the early detection of ecosystem collapse. Very few studies have so far demonstrated such rapid transitions in the provision of ES, despite widespread concern that such shifts may be imminent in many ecosystems. We believe that the forest ecosystems of the UK currently provide examples of this process occurring, which we will examine and document during this research. We believe that this could therefore deliver very significant scientific impact. The project will also be formally linked with the NERC BESS programme, to maximise its academic impact.

More information and applications

PhD - Efficient carbon use

The Brandenburg University of Technology & German Helmholtz Center Potsdam (GFZ)

Cottbus, Germany

Description

Development of tools for carbon, nutrient and water-use efficient food security in urban and peri-urban agriculture. The Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg together with the German Helmholtz Center Potsdam (GFZ) conduct research and development in the field of climate friendly novel land use systems. The approach is focused on the link between alternative energy supply and (peri-)urban agricultural production. A full-time Ph.D. position is available in this research field aiming on the development of a scientifically-based support tool for stakeholders.

Urban and peri-urban Agriculture (UPA) can contribute to the resilience of cities to extremes by delivering local food resources making cities more independent from imports from potentially affected areas of production outside the boundaries of the city. UPA can be a way to make food production more sustainable by using wastes, idle land, excess heat and CO2 and water bodies/waste water in cities as resources to produce food and reduce GHG emissions. At the same time the energy demand and consumption of UPA systems differs significantly e.g. when comparing (peri-)urban solutions including glasshouse orientated production and conventional area orientated agricultural food and energy production. Moreover, the increasing production of renewable energy implies a higher potential of supply for UPA systems, especially under peri-urban conditions.

More information and applications

PostDoc - Profesor selvicultura tropical

Universidad EARTH 

San José, Costa Rica

Descripción

La Universidad EARTH es una institución privada, sin fines de lucro, dedicada a la educación en ciencias  agrícolas y en recursos naturales. El sistema educativo de esta institución está basado en los principios del aprendizaje centrado en el estudiante y en el aprendizaje experiencial. Nuestro campus se localiza en la provincia de Limón en Costa Rica, Centroamérica. 

La Universidad EARTH invita a profesionales interesados en concursar para la posición académica de profesor de selvicultura que se describe a continuación. La revisión de solicitudes comenzará de inmediato y continuará hasta encontrar a la persona idónea para dicho puesto. 

Responsabilidades:

-Facilitar a estudiantes el aprendizaje de principios, destrezas y experiencias prácticas de la 

planificación, establecimiento, manejo y aprovechamiento de bosques naturales, plantaciones forestales y sistemas agroforestales dentro de un marco de sostenibilidad técnica, socio-económica, ambiental, y de buena gobernanza. 

-Participar en actividades de proyección de la Universidad, apoyar las actividades del Programa de Educación Permanente y de la Oficina de Relaciones Académicas Internacionales. 

-Participar en proyectos de investigación que involucren a estudiantes de la institución y en actividades científicas o profesionales de su campo. 

-Apoyar otras actividades de servicio a la Universidad. 

Requisitos

El candidato o candidata debe mostrar las siguientes calificaciones: 

-Título de posgrado (preferiblemente doctorado) en Ingeniería Forestal o Agroforestal, con experiencia práctica en el manejo sostenible de bosques naturales, plantaciones forestales, sistemas agroforestales para la producción conjunta de bienes (maderables y no maderables) y servicios ambientales (mitigación al cambio climático, biodiversidad, conservación de aguas). 

-Conocimiento y experiencia deseable en algunos de los siguientes temas: Agroforestería, Biometría e inventarios forestales; procesamiento y comercialización de productos forestales, y sistemas de información geográfica y GPS. 

-Experiencia en la determinación de Carbono Neutral. 

-Experiencia en la enseñanza a jóvenes 

-Excelencia demostrada como facilitador del aprendizaje 

-Haber trabajado y vivido en América Latina (es deseable pero no requerido) 

-Habilidad de comunicarse efectivamente en inglés y español (oral y escrito) es deseable. 

-Excelente habilidad para trabajar en equipos interdisciplinarios y multiculturales. 

-Dispuesto a vivir y trabajar en una zona rural. 

Más información y solicitudes