The Leibniz Laboratory for Radiometric Dating and Isotope Research of the Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany, is seeking graduate students for a PhD position in the DFG Research Unit "Biogeochemistry of paddy soil evolution, TP6: ¹⁴C AMS as a tracer and dating tool in the study of paddy soil carbon dynamics", to be filled immediately. The appointment will be for three years for (currently) 19.35 h per week (50 % of a full employment) and salary paid according to scale 13 TV-L (formerly IIa BAT), given appropriate qualifications.

The project "¹⁴C AMS as a tracer and dating tool in the study of paddy soil carbon dynamics" is strongly interdisciplinary and includes radiocarbon dating of rice paddy soil profiles and demonstrating the transport of organic compounds in paddy soils using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) as well as field sampling in China. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with the German colleagues and Chinese partners of the Research Unit.

Eligible candidates must hold a masters (or Diplom) in Chemistry, Bio- or Geosciences, preferably directed towards soil science and/or carbon cycle. The candidate will also be part of the Graduate School "Human Development in Landscapes" (further information at www.uni-kiel.de/landscapes), established as part of the German Excellence Initiative. Readiness to work in a team and a good knowledge of English are essential.

The University aims to increase the participation of female scientists in research and education and therefore explicitly invites suitably qualified women to apply. The University is committed to the employment of handicapped persons, who will preferentiallly be employed when suitably qualified.

Applications including a curriculum vitae, copies of credentials and two letters of reference can be submitted until April 15 2008 to