Jobs:Job-00120
Apply before: 29 February 2020
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Posting:
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Apply before: 29 February 2020
Apply online:
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With a focus on terrestrial systems at high latitudes, the Postdoc will contribute new knowledge and improved model representation of high latitude vegetation and its interactions with the wider physical environment, including snow-vegetation interactions. Complex terrain (such as in many arctic and alpine areas) with varying snow cover, soil depth or active layer (permafrost), provides a model challenge. Sub-grid tiling of vegetation and soil columns according to hill slope, soil depth and snow, which allows lateral flow of water and nutrients between soil columns, is considered a promising approach.
In-situ flux data, field observations and experimental data available within LATICE, will be exploited to evaluate the parametrisation of selected arctic, alpine and boreal plant functional types (PFTs). Furthermore, the sensitivity of the PFTs to environmental conditions, such as drought, thawing and freezing cycles, and snow depth, will be assessed. Two vegetation modules are used within the group; the default vegetation module in CLM5 with fixed vegetation distribution and CLM5-FATES, with prognostic simulation of vegetation distribution and a detailed description of vegetation demography. Another modelling platform is Shyft, a distributed hydrological model that is used to develop and test parameterizations for a variety of processes.
The candidate will interact with model developers within LATICE and contribute to model testing and improvements (own field or lab work is optional). Focus will be on large-scale (regional) model development/sensitivity analyses in the boreal/arctic zone. The work is expected to form an integrating base for land surface modeling within LATICE. Details of the research plan will be developed based on the successful candidate’s own expertise and research ideas in close collaboration with key LATICE researchers, who will act as a multidisciplinary advisory team.
The candidate will work in a highly collaborative team-oriented environment and participate in a wide array of activities. She/he is expected to play an active role in the supervision of students at all levels, including PhDs and will be provided leadership opportunities within LATICE.
Postdoctoral fellows who are appointed for a period of four years are expected to acquire basic pedagogical competency in the course of their fellowship period within the duty component of 25 %.
The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a professional development plan no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.
