Resarcher in Biology. - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Description of the project / work
A researcher position in microbial ecology is available to work with Johannes Rousk, associate professor of soil microbiology at Lund University. The project will focus on microbial responses to climate change factors in soil in general, including in particular microbial growth rate, microbial community property- and carbon-use efficiency responses to drought, and recurring drought cycles in soil.

Soil microorganisms govern the decomposer processes that dominate the terrestrial carbon and nutrient cycles. Recently, the ability to characterise microbial dependences on and responses to variation in environmental factors, including temperature, moisture, etc., have improved dramatically, partly due to method developments. In parallel, biogeochemical models have begun the incorporation of mechanistic representations of microbial processes. However, to date, these developments lack integration. The project will focus on integrating empirical microbial responses to climate change factors in soil, including in particular microbial growth rate, community properties and carbon-use efficiency responses to temperature, drought, and recurring drought cycles in soil, etc.

The project will be mostly focused on modelling, but conducted in close collaboration and active two-way-exchange with an empirical team of researchers. The candidate will also act like a link to experienced modellers. Hence, an interest in linking between ecosystem model and empirical work is valuable. The candidate will also be expected to help supervise Ph.D., Masters or Bachelor thesis project students working on thematically related projects. The candidate will work in an active research environment including several postdocs, PhD students, and thesis students investigating research questions in similar themes, with generous opportunity for collaborative work.

Qualifications

Requirements

• The successful applicant will have completed a Ph.D. in microbial ecology, soil microbiology, biogeochemistry, soil science, or equivalent, within 4 years.
• The candidate should have no less than 2-years of postdoctoral research experience at the commencement of the employment.
• Excellent knowledge of biogeochemical modelling including preparation and verification of input data, set-up of model runs, verification, post-processing, analysis and visualisation of output data.
• The candidate will have excellent knowledge of microbial ecology and documented experience with laboratory methods relevant to the project, including the use of stable isotope (13C and 15N) methods, or the use of radio-isotope (14C and 3H) methods to assess microbial community processes in soil.
• The candidate will have excellent language skills in English, in conversation and writing.

Meriting

• It is a merit if PhD and postdoctoral experience is obtained from different institutes.
• It is a merit if the candidate has developed conceptual models that represent microbial processes in order to estimate biogeochemical process rates.  
• The candidate will have documented experience with conducting independent research projects, including all stages from design, via laboratory analyses and data interpretation, to final publication.
• The successful application for research funding is an important merit, as is experience with the preparation of research proposals for national or international research councils.
• Documented experience of collaborative work with empirical ecologist researchers, and with ecosystem modellers, with a focus of representing microbial ecophysiology in biogeochemical models, are important merits.
• Documented experience of supervising research projects of visiting researchers, students at all levels is an important merit.
• Publications in international, peer-reviewed journals, with a leading role (i.e. first-author, and/or corresponding author) is also an important merit. 

Application

Applicants will send a CV, cover letter and contact information for two people who are willing to give reference statements.