Zurich, Switzerland

A PhD position is open for an enthusiastic person interested in turnover and stabilization of soil organic matter in high elevation grasslands. You will be working in the Air Pollution / Climate Group at Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research station ART (http://www.art.admin.ch), one out of three Swiss Federal Research Stations for Agriculture. We are an interdisciplinary team of 15-20 scientists (head Prof. J. Fuhrer) working on the issues of global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, and ecosystem responses to disturbances and use both field experiments and simulation models. Our Group participates in several international research activities, and the current project is embedded in a European research network
(COST 639; http://bfw.ac.at/rz/bfwcms.web?dok=5906).

Carbon turnover in high elevation soils may respond differently to changing environmental conditions than in temperate soils possibly owing to small biological activities. The project goal is to derive carbon turnover times and understand mechanisms and extent of organic matter stabilisation. We are in particular interested in the partitioning of organic matter into soil fractions of various stabilities.

Within this project soil and plant samples will be taken along environmental gradients (elevation, management) both below and above the treeline. Several analytical methods (radiocarbon, stable isotopes, spectroscopy, and respiration measurements) in conjunction with modelling exercises will be applied to improve the mechanistic understanding of organic matter turnover. These data will be used to evaluate if the current paradigms of soil organic matter stabilization and destabilisation hold true for colder environments.

The successful candidate will be supervised at ART in Zurich and participate in the PhD-programme of the University of Zurich (group Prof. M.W.I. Schmidt).

Required education/skills:

We are looking for a result-driven person with:

• a university degree (Master, Diploma) in Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Physical Geography, or Agriculture with a sound knowledge in soil chemistry
• first experience with lab and/or field experiments
• good English writing and presentation skills
• good mathematical and basic programming skills are an advantage

Date of entry: as soon as possible

Conditions of employment

Three-year appointment at ART
Estimated mean annual salary: CHF 35’000 – 41’000
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Working place: Zurich

Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Dr. Jens Leifeld
Telephone number: +41 44 3777 510
E-mail: jens.leifeld at art.admin.ch

Please send a letter of application, CV, statement of research interests and addresses of two potential referees as paper copy or email a single pdf file before 25-May-2008 to:

Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Researech Station ART
Jens Leifeld
Reckenholzstrasse 191
8046 Zurich
Switzerland