[ES_JOBS_NET] Master thesis in Australia (2017) - Plant Ecology, ecophysiology, physiology

[José Monteiro]

We are looking for a motivated student who can work independently and in a
group to write a Master thesis about the role of plant functional diversity
for water cycling in a Mediterranean-type ecosystem in South-West
Australia. Our project “Ecosystem services through restoration: Improving
restoration outcomes through trait-based modelling” (further information on
the webpage of the Tietjen group at the Freie Universität Berlin:
http://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/biologie/arbeitsgruppen/botanik/ag_tietjen/Forschung/MTE_Restoration.html)
aims at modelling vegetation in combination with hydrological and nutrient
cycling dynamics to support the restoration of abandoned agricultural
fields. Our model should be validated against field measurements. The model
results should be compared to empirical evidence which vegetation
composition leads to a faster and more complete re-establishment of
ecosystem services such as water and nutrient cycling.

The selected student should accompany us to a field trip to the Ridgefield
study site close to Perth, South-West Australia. The expedition should
occur around September-October 2017 (approximately 6-8 weeks), but we
intend to fill the position soon to allow us to apply for travel funding at
PROMOS (program for the mobility of undergraduate and postgraduate
students). The experimental activities should involve water relations and
gas exchanges of woody plants in the transition between rainy and dry
season. We want to explore whether a more diverse vegetation composition
with a larger root functional diversity would allow for a better usage of
soil moisture and therefore provide good soil water conditions.

The ideal candidate should have experience and/or interest in plant
ecology, ecophysiology or physiology and preferably be a Master student in
the area of Berlin. Experience with water economy or gas exchange methods,
and with the statistical environment R and fluency in English are preferred.

If this job description corresponds to your academic interests, you are
welcome to apply with a short motivation letter and your CV as a single
file by 31.03.2017 to Dr. José Monteiro (jose.monteiro at fu-berlin.de) and
Sebastian Fiedler (sebastian.fiedler at fu-berlin.de). If you have any
question, do not hesitate in contacting Mr. Fiedler or Dr. Monteiro.

HTML announcement:
http://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/biologie/arbeitsgruppen/botanik/ag_tietjen/Forschung/MTE_Restoration.html
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