PhD scholarship at the Department of Forest and Landscape Ecology, Faculty of Life
Study Subject: Forest and Landscape Ecology
Employer:University of Copenhagen
Level:PhD
Scholarship Description:The primary aim of the Ph.D. project is to unravel the influence of nitrogen availability on some aspects of soil C dynamics. The second and broader aim is to evaluate the potential C sequestration in Nordic forest soils due to elevated N deposition or changed forest management. The PhD will use a combination of (i) large observational databases of soil carbon content in forests, (ii) well described long-term forest managements experiments, and (iii) mathematical simulation models.
The results will be used to advice the forestry sector on best management practices and strategies for protection of and/or increasing the soils carbon sink. The results will be of relevance for future post-Kyoto climate change mitigation and adaptation agreements. The work is linked to a Nordic research network “Forest Soil C sink” funded by NordForsk and the Danish project C-For-Soil funded by the Villum Kann Rasmussen Foundation. Shorter and longer stays at Nordic partner institutions are expected. The project involves collaboration with research partners from the Nordic countries.
Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at LIFE are:
* Manage and carry through your research project
* Take PhD courses
* Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis
* Participate in international congresses
* Stay at a research institution abroad for a few months
* Teach and disseminate your research
Key criteria for the assessment of candidates
* A master´s degree related to the subject area of the project. Specifically, the appointee should have qualifications within the following areas:
1. Experience with field work, an interest for data analysis and for mathematical simulation models.
2. Soil science, quantification of carbon and nitrogen pools and fluxes
3. Forest ecology and nutrient cycling.
* The grade point average achieved
* Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD programme
* Previous publications
* Relevant work experience
* Other professional activities
* Language skills
* Interpersonal skills
Scholarship Application Deadline: 18 November 2010
