Researcher in carbon cycle data assimilation - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

We seek a postdoctoral researcher / researcher to work on development, testing and application of a coupled carbon cycle fossil fuel data assimilation system. Both a carbon cycle data assimilation and a fossil fuel data assimilation system are already existing and have been developed at the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science (INES), Lund University (CCDAS) and the international collaborator at University of Melbourne (FFDAS). The appointee will be based at INES and a member of the inverse modelling group; he/she will work on the coupling as well as further development of the system together with the project partners and international collaborators. The CCDAS/FFDAS are widely used in a variety of projects at Lund University and collaborators. Furthermore the work is closely linked to the two recently funded EU projects CHE (http://www.che-project.eu) and VERIFY. This offers to the appointee the possibility of collaborative work with international research institutions.

Job Assignment

The successful candidate will carry out further development, testing and application of a coupled carbon cycle fossil fuel data assimilation system, CCFFDAS which is based on the two component data assimilation systems CCDAS for the terrestrial biosphere and FFDAS for fossil fuel emissions. CCDAS is being developed and applied by researchers at INES. CCDAS is capable of assimilating a range of observations (atmospheric CO2 concentration data, eddy-covariance CO2 fluxes, FAPAR and soil moisture) to optimise a set of process parameters of the underlying terrestrial carbon cycle model. FFDAS employs a similar methodology as CCDAS to constrain fossil fuel emissions with a range of socio-economic data based on the Kaya identity. The research focuses on the coupling of the two systems and its further development and application in collaboration with the project partners. Specific tasks include model development and experiments to simultaneously study biogenic carbon cycling and anthropogenic fossil fuel emissions constrained by potential remotely sensed atmospheric CO2 concentrations with a focus on Europe. The research will be carried out at INES, Lund University with the possibility of collaborative work with INES’ research partners. Participation in international meetings and workshops, and communication activities related to the research work is expected.

Required Qualifications

• Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in a quantitative subject relevant for the appointment.
• Prior experience is required of working with terrestrial carbon cycle or fossil fuel emissions models.
• Applicants must possess documented skills in computer programming, preferably in Fortran, and should be familiar with command-language scripting in Unix or Linux environments.
• An excellent command of written and spoken English is required.
  

Meriting

• Prior experience of the application of data assimilation methods as well as terrestrial biosphere or fossil fuel emissions modelling to the study of carbon cycling and land-atmosphere carbon exchanges, is a strong advantage.
• Prior contributions to the development of inverse modelling or data assimilation systems, and in particular in carbon cycle modelling, would be especially relevant.
• Emphasis will be placed on the quality and quantity of scientific publications and other academic achievements indicative of emerging independence as a researcher.