The Global Change Ecology Lab at the University of Alabama seeks a highly motivated graduate student to work on a long-term project with the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA). The project will focus on understanding how various alternative agricultural practices affect the carbon, water and energy cycles of these agroecosystems and the atmosphere. The student will have the opportunity to work with a multi-institutional group, including scientists from the University of Alabama, INRA, CNRS-Université Paris, and the Université Paris-Saclay. As part of the project the student will work with long-term (14 years per tower) eddy covariance data at multiple sites.
Research Context and Specific Focus: There is currently a global debate about how society should approach slowing and/or reversing increases in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs). One suggestion is that changes in agricultural practices that increase carbon storage in soils could mitigate rising atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. However, to increase carbon sequestration in soils, one must alter a variety of agricultural practices and increase productivity of crops, for example, by altering their physiological capacity or removing resource limitations. This increased productivity can be a double- edged sword because increasing plant growth may occur at the expense of increased water use. Understanding the complex interaction between increased carbon storage in agricultural systems and increased water use establishes the foundation for this study. The primary objective of this proposed research is to examine the hypothesis, “trading carbon for water” within the Agricultural Innovation 2025 plan. This initiative, recently launched by the French government, emphasizes the importance of increasing annual soil carbon storage by 0.4% annually, which has been identified as a path forward to significant mitigation of atmospheric GHG emissions while ensuring food security and ecosystem services. Indeed societal reliance on ecosystem services, and the threat of large positive climate feedbacks, demands that we understand the linkages between carbon and water and how to enhance the resilience of agro-ecosystems. Required Qualifications: 1. Bachelor’s degree in ecology, atmospheric sciences, ag engineering, atmospheric chemistry, computer science, statistics or mathematics, or related field. 2. An understanding of eddy covariance techniques 3. Ability to spend 3 to 6 months per year in France during the course of study. 4. Strong quantitative skills and analytical skills. 5. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Interested candidates should contact Gregory Starr ([email protected]) and send a CV, letter of interest, research statement, and if possible a writing sample. This assistantship is fully funded and includes a competitive stipend, tuition waiver, and travel expenses to France.
