Two PhD positions: Empirical Research on Plant Growth to constrain Land Ecosystem Models (1.0 FTE) (# of pos: 2)

Understanding the role of terrestrial ecosystems in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and how this is influenced by temperature, CO2, nutrients and soil microbial communities is essential to predict future changes in the Earth’s climate. Ecosystem and Earth System models (ESMs) have been developed to mimic these functions. However, large uncertainties remain in our effort to simulate plant growth. The aim of the overarching LEMONTREE project is to develop a next-generation model of the terrestrial biosphere and its interactions with the carbon and nutrient cycles, water cycle and climate, based on firm theoretical and empirical foundations. The two PhD positions at Utrecht University will contribute to the LEMONTREE project by focusing on empirical research on quantifying the effects of temperature, CO2, nutrients and soil microbes on plant growth, leaf gas exchange, and the time scale of acclimation by photosynthesis traits. Analysing datasets and linking data to model development is also an important component of the position.
LEMONTREE consortium:
The Land Ecosystem Models based On New Theory, obseRvations, and ExperimEnts (LEMONTREE) consortium project is funded by Schmidt Futures and under the umbrella of VESRI, the Virtual Earth System Research Institute. The consortium includes participants from Reading, Imperial College London, Columbia University, the University of Pittsburgh, UC Berkeley, Utrecht University, Seoul National University, Texas Tech University, Tsinghua University, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, the UK Met Office and the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts.