Job description
We are seeking a highly motivated person for PhD studies in Ecosystem Ecology, with emphasis on plant-soil-herbivory interactions with the coupling to the atmosphere. The PhD project aims to improve the understanding of the underlying processes in plant-herbivore interactions and subsequently develop our knowledge on how future climate warming can affect the Swedish mountains. In the recent past, substantial evidence has also accumulated that arctic and alpine landscapes are undergoing distinct changes in plant community structure, presumably brought about by increasing temperatures and a prolonged snow-free season. However, reindeer can inhibit climate-driven shrub expansion and plant community change in the Arctic. Thus, model simulations not considering herbivore impacts may be severely biased, thus impairing reliable projections of vegetation composition and associated ecosystem changes under a changing climate.
Field work will include revisiting the WWF reindeer grazing project, established in 1995 at five sites with different grazing intensities situated along the mountain range (61°N-68°N). The PhD studies includes: (1) recent vegetation changes to climate warming, (2) influence of herbivores on plant community composition and diversity, and long-term carbon stocks, (3) influence of herbivores on soil microbial communities and processes, and resulting green-house gas exchange, and (4) the effect of grazing on present vegetation composition and ecosystem processes with the dynamic ecosystem model LPJ-GUESS and subsequently project changes under a warming climate. The balance between various aspects of the work will depend on the inclination and skills of the successful applicant. Results generated will facilitate improved prediction of ecosystem processes and vegetation feedbacks to the climate system.
The PhD student will working within the research project ‘Ecosystem responses to herbivory and climate change along the Swedish mountains, which is a cooperation between ecologist at the University of Gothenburg and modellers at Lund University and LOEWE Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The PhD task also links to the Swedish strategic research initiatives BECC (Biodiversity and Ecosystems in a Changing Climate) that organises a research school for PhD students in which the successful applicant may participate. There will also be opportunities to attend the Cost action ‘Belowground carbon turnover in European forests’ training school, but also to conducted short-term scientific mission with another partner in the action, to learn a new technique or to take measurements using instruments and/or methods not available in their own institution/laboratory.
The main task is to conduct the PhD thesis work under supervision, which includes develop-ment of the PhD student’s methodology experience, analytical skills, and theoretical depth and breadth. Examples of techniques used within the project are optical point-framing for plant species abundance, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, closed chamber and gas diffusion technique for greenhouse gas measurements. The studies will include both field studies and laboratory experimental work as well as cooperation with modellers. Specific research topics associated with the research project include plant ecology, plant ecophysio-logy, soil microbiology and biogeochemistry.
The Department is located on the campus of the Gothenburg Botanical Garden, one of the largest and most excellent in northern Europe, and within walking distance to other Science and Medical Departments at the University of Gothenburg. The research at the Department covers a broad range of research areas: Ecology and Conservation, Ecophysiology and Biogeochemistry, Ecotoxicology, Systematics and Biodiversity, and Plant Cell and Molecular Biology. The PhD student will be a member of the research group in Ecophysiology and Biogeochemistry which includes approximately 20 scientists; technicians and PhD students. See also www.dpes.gu.se.
Third cycle education
Admission to third cycle education is aiming at a PhD in Life Science with emphasis in Biology or Environmental Science. The education runs for four years of full-time studies, containing three years of thesis work, and one year of academic education i.e. course work and literature studies. A selection of courses at the Department/Faculty is available, but national/international courses can also be selected. The period until 2011-12-31 will be financed via a stipend from the University (doctoral grant), while the following years will be financed as a PhD position. Usually 10-20% teaching and/or course administration are in-cluded which extends the contract to the same extent. The applicant will be expected to start on 2 May 2011 or as decided by negotiations.
Qualifications
The applicant must have a second-cycle degree or have completed studies for at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or have completed a corresponding programme in some other country or have equivalent qualifications within the Biology, Environmental Science or related areas. Good communi-cation skills (written and spoken) in English are necessary. Specialisation within Plant Eco-logy, Soil Microbiology, Biogeochemistry and/or Ecophysiology and experience of plant monitoring in field and measurements of greenhouse gases is advantageous.
Selection criteria
The following criteria will be applied in selecting among applicants:
• Qualifications from basic education
• Qualifications of the master's program, which rely on special competence
• Qualifications of other relevant studies or employments
• The applicant's ability to absorb postgraduate training
• The applicant's ability to work within a research group
The top ranked candidates will be selected for an interview, which might be held in English and could also be performed by phone.
For more information please contact
The becoming Supervisor Dr Robert G. Björk, phone +46-(0)31-786 3741, email:http://www.dpes.gu.se">robert.bjork@dpes.gu.se; webpage:http://www.dpes.gu.se/personal/larare_forskare/robert_bjork/
or Head of department Göran Wallin, phone: +46-(0)31-7862620, email:goran.wallin@dpes.gu.se.
Application documents
• A short cover letter with the applicant’s motivation for the application that describes how the applicant meets the selection criteria (max. one A4 page)
• An attested list of qualifications (CV)
• Examination certificates and a transcript of courses with grades
• A copy of the master thesis (or equivalent)
• Employments certificates and other documents deemed important by the applicant
• Contact information for at least two references that are familiar with the applicant’s qualifications
Send the application to the following address:
University of Gothenburg
Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Att. Ingela Lyck
Box 461
SE-405 30 Gothenburg
Sweden
Alternatively send the application electronically in one single PDF-file to:ingela.lyck@dpes.gu.se
The application must be received no later than 1th of Mars 2011.
Mark the application with ref. no U 2011/18
Union representatives:
SACO Martin Björkman, phone +46-31-786 3608
SEKO Lennart Olsson, phone +46-31-786 1173
OFR-S Astrid Igerud, phone +46-31-786 1167
We are seeking a highly motivated person for PhD studies in Ecosystem Ecology, with emphasis on plant-soil-herbivory interactions with the coupling to the atmosphere. The PhD project aims to improve the understanding of the underlying processes in plant-herbivore interactions and subsequently develop our knowledge on how future climate warming can affect the Swedish mountains. In the recent past, substantial evidence has also accumulated that arctic and alpine landscapes are undergoing distinct changes in plant community structure, presumably brought about by increasing temperatures and a prolonged snow-free season. However, reindeer can inhibit climate-driven shrub expansion and plant community change in the Arctic. Thus, model simulations not considering herbivore impacts may be severely biased, thus impairing reliable projections of vegetation composition and associated ecosystem changes under a changing climate.
Field work will include revisiting the WWF reindeer grazing project, established in 1995 at five sites with different grazing intensities situated along the mountain range (61°N-68°N). The PhD studies includes: (1) recent vegetation changes to climate warming, (2) influence of herbivores on plant community composition and diversity, and long-term carbon stocks, (3) influence of herbivores on soil microbial communities and processes, and resulting green-house gas exchange, and (4) the effect of grazing on present vegetation composition and ecosystem processes with the dynamic ecosystem model LPJ-GUESS and subsequently project changes under a warming climate. The balance between various aspects of the work will depend on the inclination and skills of the successful applicant. Results generated will facilitate improved prediction of ecosystem processes and vegetation feedbacks to the climate system.
The PhD student will working within the research project ‘Ecosystem responses to herbivory and climate change along the Swedish mountains, which is a cooperation between ecologist at the University of Gothenburg and modellers at Lund University and LOEWE Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The PhD task also links to the Swedish strategic research initiatives BECC (Biodiversity and Ecosystems in a Changing Climate) that organises a research school for PhD students in which the successful applicant may participate. There will also be opportunities to attend the Cost action ‘Belowground carbon turnover in European forests’ training school, but also to conducted short-term scientific mission with another partner in the action, to learn a new technique or to take measurements using instruments and/or methods not available in their own institution/laboratory.
The main task is to conduct the PhD thesis work under supervision, which includes develop-ment of the PhD student’s methodology experience, analytical skills, and theoretical depth and breadth. Examples of techniques used within the project are optical point-framing for plant species abundance, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, closed chamber and gas diffusion technique for greenhouse gas measurements. The studies will include both field studies and laboratory experimental work as well as cooperation with modellers. Specific research topics associated with the research project include plant ecology, plant ecophysio-logy, soil microbiology and biogeochemistry.
The Department is located on the campus of the Gothenburg Botanical Garden, one of the largest and most excellent in northern Europe, and within walking distance to other Science and Medical Departments at the University of Gothenburg. The research at the Department covers a broad range of research areas: Ecology and Conservation, Ecophysiology and Biogeochemistry, Ecotoxicology, Systematics and Biodiversity, and Plant Cell and Molecular Biology. The PhD student will be a member of the research group in Ecophysiology and Biogeochemistry which includes approximately 20 scientists; technicians and PhD students. See also www.dpes.gu.se.
Third cycle education
Admission to third cycle education is aiming at a PhD in Life Science with emphasis in Biology or Environmental Science. The education runs for four years of full-time studies, containing three years of thesis work, and one year of academic education i.e. course work and literature studies. A selection of courses at the Department/Faculty is available, but national/international courses can also be selected. The period until 2011-12-31 will be financed via a stipend from the University (doctoral grant), while the following years will be financed as a PhD position. Usually 10-20% teaching and/or course administration are in-cluded which extends the contract to the same extent. The applicant will be expected to start on 2 May 2011 or as decided by negotiations.
Qualifications
The applicant must have a second-cycle degree or have completed studies for at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or have completed a corresponding programme in some other country or have equivalent qualifications within the Biology, Environmental Science or related areas. Good communi-cation skills (written and spoken) in English are necessary. Specialisation within Plant Eco-logy, Soil Microbiology, Biogeochemistry and/or Ecophysiology and experience of plant monitoring in field and measurements of greenhouse gases is advantageous.
Selection criteria
The following criteria will be applied in selecting among applicants:
• Qualifications from basic education
• Qualifications of the master's program, which rely on special competence
• Qualifications of other relevant studies or employments
• The applicant's ability to absorb postgraduate training
• The applicant's ability to work within a research group
The top ranked candidates will be selected for an interview, which might be held in English and could also be performed by phone.
For more information please contact
The becoming Supervisor Dr Robert G. Björk, phone +46-(0)31-786 3741, email:http://www.dpes.gu.se">robert.bjork@dpes.gu.se; webpage:http://www.dpes.gu.se/personal/larare_forskare/robert_bjork/
or Head of department Göran Wallin, phone: +46-(0)31-7862620, email:goran.wallin@dpes.gu.se.
Application documents
• A short cover letter with the applicant’s motivation for the application that describes how the applicant meets the selection criteria (max. one A4 page)
• An attested list of qualifications (CV)
• Examination certificates and a transcript of courses with grades
• A copy of the master thesis (or equivalent)
• Employments certificates and other documents deemed important by the applicant
• Contact information for at least two references that are familiar with the applicant’s qualifications
Send the application to the following address:
University of Gothenburg
Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Att. Ingela Lyck
Box 461
SE-405 30 Gothenburg
Sweden
Alternatively send the application electronically in one single PDF-file to:ingela.lyck@dpes.gu.se
The application must be received no later than 1th of Mars 2011.
Mark the application with ref. no U 2011/18
Union representatives:
SACO Martin Björkman, phone +46-31-786 3608
SEKO Lennart Olsson, phone +46-31-786 1173
OFR-S Astrid Igerud, phone +46-31-786 1167
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