Post-doctoral fellow in biosphere-atmosphere interactions (PA2023/276)

Subject description
Input and output fluxes of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems are governed by the response of soil microorganisms and vegetation to weather events and climate. Recent evidence indicates that the short-term fluxes triggered by the alternation of drought and rainfall events can dominate the land-atmosphere carbon exchange. However, these fluxes are still poorly understood, scarcely quantified, and widely overlooked in the literature. This project aims at resolving this omission through an integrative empirical analysis based on a reinterpretation of ecosystem-level carbon flux data using eddy-covariance techniques.

The main tasks of the project will be framed around the i) characterization of the disproportional carbon dioxide pulses induced by rain across wide climate gradients, ii) identification of mechanisms governing them and iii) quantification of the contribution of these short-term pulses to the annual ecosystem carbon budget. This project will represent a significant advance towards resolving how fluxes adapt to changes in the frequency and intensity of drought-rainfall events, bringing us closer to understanding and predicting the influence of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems and their carbon stocks.

The post-doc position will be located at the Centre for Environment and Climate Science (CEC) at Lund University and includes an up to 3-month visit at the University of Gothenburg.

Work duties
The main duties involved in a post-doctoral position is to conduct research. The position shall promote career development, including the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours.

In detail, work duties are:

• To conduct research within the subject area: mainly analysing and characterizing the rain-induced carbon fluxes in eddy-covariance data and improving the quantification methods for their contribution to the ecosystem budgets.
• To participate in activities organized by the research environment BECC (Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate).
• To supervise degree/master/PhD projects.
• To actively seek for external research funding.

Qualification requirements
Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within atmospheric sciences, environmental sciences, physical geography, ecosystem science, ecology, climate sciences, soil science, or similar. The doctoral degree should have been completed no more than three years before the date of application. Under special circumstances, it may have been completed earlier.

Important merits:

• In-depth and substantiated experience of measurements and analyses of green house gas data based on eddy-covariance techiques. This includes experience in using so called “flux-partitioning algorithms”,  
• some experience of measurements and analyses of data based on chamber techniques,
• experience in handling large data sets,
• knowledge of terrestrial ecosystems and soil science,
• advanced knowledge of Phyton, R, or Matlab,
• ability to develop and conduct independent high-quality research,
• publications in international peer-reviewed journals (leading role),
• very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Assessment criteria and other qualifications
The assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject. In-depth and substantiated experience of measurements and analyses of green house gas data based on eddy-covariance techiques will be prioritized.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment
This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of 2 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S and OFR/S, dated 1st February 2022. Startdate: As soon as possible.

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English and be compiled into a PDF-file containing:

• cover letter with a general description of past research and future research interests (max 3 pages),
• résumé/CV, including a list of publications (max 5 pages),
• contact information of two references,
• copy of the doctoral degree certificate, and other certificates/grades that you wish to be considered.