Dear Ecolog: I am searching for a PhD student to investigate a range of mechanisms through which atmospheric N deposition may affect soil C sequestration in Swedish boreal forests. Further details about the position are pasted below, or can be found on the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences jobs page(http://www.slu.se/en/education/postgraduate-studies/new-phd- student/read-more/?Uid=734). The position will begin in spring or early summer of 2012. Please share this announcement with anybody who may be qualified and interested.
Sincerely, Michael J. Gundale Associate Professor Dept. of Forest Ecology and Management Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå, Sweden www.seksko.se/goto.php?link=MG ----------------------------------------------------------- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Umeå, Sweden 1 PhD student position (4-year salary) in the area of ecosystem ecology and plant physiology: 1: Ref. nr 4133/2011. The effect of anthropogenic nitrogen deposition on the net carbon balance of boreal soils. We invite applications for a recently funded research project focused on the effect of atmospheric N deposition on the soil C balance in boreal forests. During the past century, fertilizer production, agricultural intensification and fossil fuel combustion have led to a 3- to 5-fold increase in the global emissions of reactive nitrogen. There is substantial interest in understanding the fate and consequences of this nitrogen when it enters terrestrial environments, including whether it causes the carbon balance of nitrogen-limited ecosystems to change. We will utilize a unique study system near Vindeln, Sweden, to investigate how soil C pools and fluxes respond to simulated anthropogenic N enrichment. The experimental site was established in a late-successional spruce forest at Svartberget field station (SLU) in 1995, and has been treated with annual N addition treatments ever since, making it one of the longest running simulated nitrogen deposition experiments in a boreal ecosystem. This study system provides a unique opportunity for a PhD student to work within a long-term research framework exploring a range of mechanisms through which anthropogenic N may alter soil C sequestration. Supervisors: Assoc. Professor Michael Gundale (www.seksko.se/goto.php?link=MG), Professor Kristin Palmqvist (www.umu.se/sok/personalkatalog/visa-person? uid=krpa0001&guise=anst2), and Professor Annika Nordin (www.slu.se/sv/om- slu/sok/sok-anstalld/personpresentation/? emp=99E2DBF3813C5D1B0CC5CF6F7C95D2FF). Requirements: The student must have an M.Sc. or comparable degree in a relevant natural sciences field, preferably with an emphasis in plant ecology or physiology, soil science, biogeochemistry or ecosystem ecology. The student must be able to speak and write proficiently in English. The student must be comfortable working in the forest as well as in the laboratory. Any specialized experience in statistics, laboratory techniques, or experience doing field work is a plus, and should be described in your application, along with any other relevant qualifications. Possession of a valid driver’s license is desirable. We encourage both Swedish and international applicants. Enquiries: For further information about the position please contact Michael Gundale ([email protected]). For additional information related to labor conditions, please contact the PhD student ombudsperson +46 18 67 15 60, doktorandombudsmannen@slu se, and labour union representatives Lars Lundqvist +46 90 786 84 07 (SACO) and Barbro Gunnarsson +46 90 786 82 48. To Apply: See webpage for instructions and requirements (http://www.slu.se/en/education/postgraduate-studies/new-phd-student/read- more/?Uid=734) Location: Umeå, Sweden, is a vibrant university community situated near the Baltic Sea, with a population of approximately 115,000 inhabitants. The town has over 30,000 students, and two universities. Umeå is the largest city in northern Sweden, and is in close proximity to a wide range of recreational activities. Umeå is also a major transportation hub in northern Sweden, and is conveniently linked by air and train to Stockholm to the south. For more information on Umeå, visit www.visitumea.se.
