Apologies for cross-posting The Chair of Building Physics of ETHZ studies the multiple physical aspects of porous materials and their interactions with fluids. At Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Earth and Environmental Sciences Division is studying the physiology of trees under changing climate, especially drought, and developing mechanistic understanding of tree mortality during drought.
We are offering a: PhD position with focus on Transport of fluids in trees using advanced experimental methods for candidates with a Diploma or Masters degree in Mechanical, Civil, Agricultural or Material Engineering, Bioengineering, Material Sciences, or equivalent. Climate change may impose severely different conditions on trees which may, or not, be able to cope by modifying their regulation of liquid flow. In a tree, the xylem and the phloem form a continuous system from the roots to the leaves where the xylem (a dead tissue) transports water up and phloem (a living tissue) transports the sugary sap down. Flow in the xylem is thought to passively respond to changes in pressure gradients whereas, in the phloem, the plant can control flow actively by osmotic means. To understand how climate affects trees and forest distributions, we need to know how trees regulate liquid flow and how the xylem and phloem tissues interact. The project will consist of a multiscale experimental investigation of the geometry of the cellular structure, including sub-cellular features, and documentation of the liquid flow in the phloem and the xylem for trees grown under different environmental conditions. Advanced high resolution imaging techniques such as neutron tomography and synchroton X-ray nano/micro-tomography will be used. The ideal candidate is a communicative scientist with a strong background in experimental mass transport and/or biological and physical sciences. Experience in imaging is an asset. Mastering of the English language is required. The supervisor is Prof. Dr. Jan Carmeliet. The project includes joint affiliation with EMPA, Dübendorf and with Los Alamos National Laboratory, Dr. Sanna Sevanto. Additional information can be obtained by contacting Prof Dr Dominique Derome, [email protected]. We are looking forward to receiving your application including a CV, letter of interest and names and addresses of references through the website.
