"Addressing the plant growth C source-sink debate through observations, experiments, and modelling"
A postdoctoral researcher is sought to collaborate on this joint NERC/NSF-funded project. Applicants should have a PhD in Mathematics, Environmental Science, Plant Ecology, Plant Physiology, or related field.
This project is a collaboration between the Universities of Cambridge and Harvard. It aims to increase understanding of the causes, locations, and future behaviour of the terrestrial carbon sink. Models suggest that this sink is caused by increased plant growth as a result of atmospheric CO2-driven increased photosynthesis. However, there is good evidence to suggest that these models are incorrect, or at least incomplete, and that growth processes themselves dominate the response. This project will examine this idea and test new hypotheses using field data and models.
You will be based in Dr Friend's ecological modelling group in Cambridge, UK, but will also work closely with the Richardson Lab at Harvard and WSL in Switzerland. Your role will be to use understanding gained from field studies (including highly innovative tree cooling experiments) on tree growth at Harvard Forest, undertaken as part of this project, to develop a detailed process- and individual-based model of tree growth, use this model to address the extent to which tree growth is controlled by the supply of carbon from photosynthesis and/or storage, and incorporate it into a global model of terrestrial vegetation and soil dynamics. This new model formulation will be used to improve understanding of the causes and locations of the historical land carbon sink, and predict its future behaviour under various scenarios. Reducing uncertainty in terrestrial carbon fluxes is currently one of the most important objectives in global environmental science. Applicants should review the further particulars for information on all essential criteria.
Dr Friend can be contacted for further information on the project aims and design (andrew...@geog.cam.ac.uk).
Fixed-term: This post is limited in tenure to 36 months.
Interviews for shortlisted applicants will take place on 5th May 2017.
To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply' button below. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.
To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply' button below. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
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Please quote reference LC11602 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
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