PhD Student in Geobiospheric Science - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The PhD student will work in a project that links several research groups at the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science at Lund University. Many of our research activities deal with the study of the production of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) by terrestrial vegetation and the emission of BVOC from ecosystems.  BVOC play a role in atmospheric chemistry and aerosol formation and understanding the high variability in these emissions between and within individual ecosystems is of key importance to quantify their impact on atmospheric chemistry and air quality.

Plant stress like drought or herbivory is known to alter BVOC emissions from vegetation. The project aims at quantifying the effect of plant stress on BVOC production both at tree level and the whole ecosystem, and will combine measurements of BVOC emissions (from chamber to ecosystemscale) with remote sensing data of plant health and ecosystem-scale measurements of carbon exchange and evapotranspiration. The project will also modify an existing ecosystem model to include stress-induced effects on BVOC production in modeling approaches.

Assignment
We seek a PhD student to perform gas exchange measurements using chamber techniques both in the lab and in the field to quantify BVOC exchange and variability of emissions of spruce trees caused by stress. The candidate will relate chamber measurements with ongoing ecosystem-scale measurements done within e.g. ICOS. The project also includes comparisons with the carbon- and water balance of the forest as well as analysis of spectral data obtained from remote sensing to quantify how stressed the ecosystem is. The student will also take part in the development and implementation of a module that adds stress-induced emissions to an ecosystem model.

Qualifications
We welcome highly motivated candidates with enthusiasm for collaboration within a dynamic, international and multifaceted research group.

Requested:

• M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) in a quantitative environmental science discipline, for instance meteorology, physical geography, environmental physics, environmental engineering or biochemistry. Applications from candidates who are close to completion of their undergraduate studies will also be considered.
• The candidate should have a strong theoretical background in environmental physics, biogeochemistry or plant physiology. In the evaluation, we will also especially consider knowledge and experience from field measurements (e.g. gas exchange), the applicant’s ability to work independently, take responsability, and to address scientific questions.
• The applicant should be able to communicate research results, and have demonstrated experience in scientific writing.
• The project work involves field work at remote places and the candidate must be willing to travel.
• A valid driving license (B or higher).
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Desirable:

• Programming skills (e.g. Matlab, Python, C++, Fortran or similar).
• Knowledge of remote sensing techniques or application of remote sensing data.

Eligibility
Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who- have completed a second-cycle degree- have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Type of employment
Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.