[ES_JOBS_NET] Research fellow (PhD student) in Ecosystem responses to Climate Change

[Hanna Lee]

Research fellow (PhD student) in Ecosystem responses to Climate Change

The Department of Biology at the University of Bergen, Norway 
(www.uib.no/en/bio) has a vacancy for a research fellow in Ecosystem 
responses to Climate Change affiliated with the project, “The role of 
Functional group interactions in mediating climate change impacts on the 
Carbon dynamics and Biodiversity of alpine ecosystems (FunCaB 
www.uib.no/en/rg/EECRG/85396/funcab)” funded by the Research Council of 
Norway KLIMAFORSK programme.

The fellowship position is for a fixed term of 3 years. The fellowship 
period may be reduced if you have been previously employed as a research 
fellow/research assistant or the like.

Project/work tasks:

Alpine regions contribute important ecosystem functions and services, 
and are at the same time particularly vulnerable to the ongoing climate 
change. FunCaB aims at understanding alpine biodiversity and carbon (C) 
dynamics under climate change. Specifically, we will disentangle the 
roles of and interactions between characteristic and important alpine 
primary producer (graminoids, forbs, woody, and non-vascular) and 
decomposer (e.g., bacteria, fungi) communities in climate change.

FunCaB will use an effective combination of gradient studies, field 
experiments and model simulations. The experiments are targeted 
specifically at quantifying and disentangling key climatic and biotic 
controls of alpine biodiversity and C dynamics, whereas the simulations 
will enable process-level understanding and assessment of larger-scale 
and longer-term consequences including feedbacks to the climate system.

The PhD will focus on ecosystem C cycling and stocks. The successful 
candidate will
- Initiate and maintain field experiments for the FunCaB project, in 
collaboration with other team members
- Establish CO2 flux measurements using portable chambers, measure C 
stocks, and litter decomposition in the experiment
- Develop his/her own research questions and hypotheses related to these 
experiments and measurements
- Analyse data and write and publish research papers

Qualifications and personal qualities:
- You must have completed a master's degree or equivalent in biology, 
geology, geography, or a related field, or have submitted your master's 
thesis for evaluation before expiry of the application deadline. It is a 
requirement that the master’s degree has been completed before the 
decision to appoint can be made.
- You must have experience in ecological field studies, a relevant 
statistical and/or programming background, and critical thinking and 
writing skills. Experience in operation of LiCOR CO2 analyzer, C stock 
or decomposition is an advantage.
- The successful candidate should have a  background that gives a good 
understanding of ecosystem structure and function as well as global 
climate and C cycling.
- You must be able to work independently, but also have good 
collaborative skills as the PhD will be part of a highly integrated 
project.
- You must be proficient in both written and oral English

The research training programme:
As a research fellow you must take part in an approved study programme 
leading to a PhD degree to be completed within a time period of 3 years. 
It is therefore a requirement that you meet the criteria for admission 
to the PhD study programme at the University of Bergen.

A final plan for completion of the research programme must be approved 
by the faculty within three months after you have begun working in the 
position.

We can offer:
- A good and professionally challenging working environment
- Starting salary at pay grade 50 in the Civil Service pay grade table 
(code 1017). Further increases will be made according to length of 
service in the position.
- A good pension scheme in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- Good welfare benefits
- Inclusive workplace (IW)

Further information about the position can be obtained from: Research 
Scientist Hanna Lee, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research 
(Hanna.Lee at uni.no, +47 55589869) or Professor Vigdis Vandvik, Ecological 
and Environmental Change Research Group, Department of Biology 
(Vigdis.Vandvik at bio.uib.no / +4747301794)

The application must include:
- A brief account of your motivation for applying for this job
- A research statement (maximum 2 pg) that describes your research 
interests and direction focused around ecosystem function and C dynamics 
under changing climate
- The names and contact details of at least two referees. One of these 
may be the main supervisor for your master's thesis or equivalent 
thesis.
- CV
- Transcripts and diplomas showing completion of your bachelor's and 
master's degrees, or official confirmation that your master's thesis has 
been submitted
- Relevant certificates/written references
- A list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list)
- Publications (if any) including submitted manuscripts

If your diploma, grade transcripts and other documentation are in a 
language other than a Scandinavian language or English, you must upload 
certified translations of these.

Applications sent by e-mail to individuals at the department will not be 
considered.

Closing date of applications: 2 March 2015

General information:
The teaching language will normally be Norwegian, but may also be 
English.

State employment shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the 
greatest extent possible. Age and gender balance among employees is 
therefore a goal. It is also a goal to recruit employees of various 
immigrant backgrounds as well as persons with disabilities. We encourage 
persons with an immigrant background and persons with disabilities to 
apply for the position.

The University of Bergen adheres to the principle of public access to 
information when recruiting academic staff.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant 
has requested to remain anonymous. The applicant will be notified if the 
request must be refused.

The successful candidate must comply with the guidelines and regulations 
that apply to the position.

Please visit the following webpage to apply 
(http://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/110310/research-fellow-phd-candidate-in-ecosystem-responses-to-climate-change).

-- 
Hanna Lee, Ph.D.
Forsker II
Uni Research Klima
Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
Allegaten 55
5007 Bergen, Norway
Email: Hanna.Lee at uni.no
Phone: +47 5558 9869 (office)