Posted by Ted Feldpausch
21 November 2023We are recruiting for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to model soil carbon and fire in tropical forests.
We wish to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the work of Profs Richard Betts, Ted Feldpausch, and Kees van Groenigen at the University of Exeter and in collaboration Dr Eleanor Burke and Dr Chantelle Burton at the Met Office as part of the Amazon PyroCarbon Project. This UK Natural Environment Research Council funded post is available from 15 Feburary 2024 to 14 February 2026. The successful applicant will model fire, management and soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions under land-use and climate change.
The post will include modelling fire, management and soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions under climate change using a state-of-the-art land surface model. This will include evaluating and improving the novel parameterisation of SOC fractions, including pyrogenic carbon (PyC), in JULES. The research will evaluate: i) the impact of PyC both on forest regrowth after burning and future soil C storage and ii) whether land management (fire frequency, selective logging) can control the quantities of stabilised SOC stored in soil; and iii) develop PyC modelling in JULES.
About you
The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.
Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will have experience with numerical modelling of environmental systems (essential) and experience with the JULES model or other large-scale land surface models (desirable).
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.
The University of Exeter
We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.
Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99% of our research is of international quality and 47% is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).
We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.
Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.
With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.
What we can offer you
Further information
Please contact Prof Richard Betts, e-mail r.a.betts@exeter.ac.uk.
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/pg-research/funding/phdfunding/epsrc-dtp-studentships/
Interviews are expected to take place the second week of January 2024.
This role may be subject to additional background screening.
Header image credit: Paulo Brando