[ES_JOBS_NET] PhD position on modelling vertical soil organic matter transport

[Anna Görner]

PhD position on modelling vertical soil organic matter transport

We are currently searching for a highly motivated student who would like
to explore roles of site scale heteogeneity and event flow on soil
organic matter transport and dynamics. The PhD project is embedded in
the BGI soil modelling group at the Max Planck Institute for
Biogeochemistry and in the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 'AquaDiva
– Understanding the links between surface and subsurface biogeosphere'.

The PhD project will focus on the transport of soil organic matter (SOM)
across the soil depth profile. The main project aim is to quantitatively
describe the transport of SOM across the soil profile and its relations
to land use (forest vs. grassland), site scale heterogeneity of water
flow, and event flows. You will do model development, building on our
experiences with the SOMPROF model. You will calibrate the SOMPROF model
at forest and at a grassland study site. Further you will develop
explicit links to water flow patterns and develop model schemes of event
flows. To this end, you will closely collaborate with another PhD
student studying hotspots of soil water movement induced by vegetation
canopies. By using model data integration with the collected data of
water flow hotspots within the sites, you will strive to understand the
effects of within-plot heterogeneity on SOM transport. In addition, you
will study scaling in order to use the insights about within-plot
heterogeneity again at site scale modelling.

The embedding CRC AquaDiva will focus on the important roles of water
(Aqua) and biodiversity (Diva) for shaping the structure, properties and
functions of the subsurface, defined as the zone that begins below the
highest density of plant roots (ca. 0.3 meters) and extends down into
the first aquifers (ca. 100 meters). Answering our questions about how
the critical zone interacts with matter and energy fluxes requires an
interdisciplinary research team that combines expertise in ecology,
microbiology, hydrogeology, soil science, geomorphology, geochemistry,
geology, geophysics, chemistry and information science. We are looking
for a highly motivated, active member of our group;; a team player who
works efficient, and is highly interested in interdisciplinary work
combining biogeochemistry and hydrogeology. You will be part of a young,
dynamic and supportive group, which promotes mutual exchange also with
other institutions and early participation in international and national
conferences and workshops.


Requirements:

- highly motivated scientist who holds a M.Sc. in soil science,
geo-ecology, hydrology or a related field 
- experience in programming (python, matlab, R or other script languages) 
- motivation to learn about numerical programming and statistics using R, 
- willingness to take part in field work 
- experiences in dynamical modelling, excellent knowledge of soil organic matter 
turnover, - dissolved organic matter and water movement in the unsaturated zone will be assets.


The place of work is Jena, Germany - a city of science with a high
quality of living.

Salary is based on the guidelines for public service in accordance with
pay scale 13 (65%) of the German collective agreement for public service
(TVöD). The position is limited until the 30th June 2017. The
conditions of employment, including upgrades and duration follow the
rules of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Sciences and
those of the German civil service. The Max Planck Society seeks to
increase the number of women in those areas where they are
underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. The
Max Planck Society is committed to employing more handicapped
individuals and especially encourages them to apply. A successful
candidate for this PhD position is very likely to be admitted into the
International Max Planck Research School for Biogeochemical Cycles.


How to apply

Please send a complete CV including certificates, publication list, your
contact information, names and contact information of 2-3 referees, and
a one-page cover letter stating your qualifications, background and
reasons for applying. Please send the information as ONE pdf-file by
18th of August 2013 to Dr. Thomas Wutzler
(thomas.wutzler at bgc-jena.mpg.de).

You can find more information on these websites: -
http://www.imprs-gbgc.de/ - https://www.bgc-jena.mpg.de/bgi -
http://www.aquadiva.uni-jena.de


°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Anna Goerner - coordinator
International Max Planck Research School
	for Global Biogeochemical Cycles
MPI for Biogeochemistry
Hans-Knöll-Str. 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
 
phone:   +49 3641 576260
e-mail:  anna.goerner at bgc-jena.mpg.de

http://www.imprs-gbgc.de
https://www.facebook.com/imprs.gbgc


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