Postdoctoral fellow

CAVElab is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to work on a project using terrestrial laser scanning for nondestructive measurements of carbon in temperate forests.

About CAVElab - Our lab studies vegetation dynamics, carbon and water cycling of terrestrial ecosystems. CAVElab has a strong focus on tropical forests, but a broad interest in all types of terrestrial ecosystems, including projects on temperate forests, drylands and urban ecosystems. Process-based vegetation modelling and 3D forest reconstructions are our core research tools, the questions arising from the modelling work require dedicated field work activities.

Project BEAMS: Biocarbon Europe: Advancing Measurement Standard.
The overarching aim of this proposed research is to provide a more realistic estimate of the forest aboveground carbon stocks across the UK and Europe to support both the compliance and voluntary reporting and trading of forest carbon and emphasise the natural capital value of natural and restored landscapes. Working together with colleagues from the UK (Climate Solutions Exchange & Oxford University), you will collect highly detailed 3D terrestrial laser scanning data across a range of temperate forests in the UK, France and Germany. Subsequent tree segmentation and 3D modelling will be used to benchmark current methods to estimate carbon stocks. Key outcomes from this work should address several knowledge gaps in the scientific assessment of AGB across the UK and European forests and bring confidence to forest carbon stock estimates being reported through both compliance and voluntary trading mechanisms. The results of this work will not only lead to new scientific knowledge, but is expected to provide tangible benefits and improvements in understanding for woodland owners and managers. Furthermore, this project is anticipated to provide new ecological insights into if and how size-to-mass relationships of temperate trees scale.

Our offer:

• A full-time postdoctoral fellowship contract (3 years)Tentative starting date: October/November 2021
• The successful candidate will be based in Ghent, but will have the opportunity to visit project partners in the UK (Climate Solutions Exchange & Oxford University)
• Collaboration in a young and dynamic international scientific team

• A PhD degree in a relevant field (Bio-Engineering, Forestry, Remote Sensing, Surveying, Physics, Geosciences, Environmental sciences, Computer Science). The conditions of the fellowship stipulate that the PhD degree cannot be obtained at a Belgian university and the candidate cannot have resided in Belgium for more than 24 months in the past 3 years
• Prior experience with organising and conducting fieldwork
• Familiar with (terrestrial) laser scanning
• A keen interest in forest ecology
• Knowledge of programming languages such as R, Matlab or Python
• Familiar with the linux/unix environment and handling large datasets is a plus
• A good command of English, both written and oral
• Demonstrated scientific writing through high-quality publications
• Willingness to collaborate and be a team player with good communication skills
• Interested in developing their leadership skills and supervising PhD students

For applications (send CV and application letter) or more information: dr. ir. Kim Calders | [email protected] | Application deadline: 4 October 2021 (midnight CEST) | www.cavelab.ugent.be