 Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences offers education and research concerning the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and anthroposphere. With a population of 2,500 students (BSc and MSc) and 600 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organization. The faculty is organized in four departments: Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Innovation, Environmental & Energy Sciences, and Human Geography & Urban & Regional Planning. The Utrecht Department of Earth Sciences is the largest academic Earth Sciences institute in The Netherlands. The department conducts teaching and research across the full range of the solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology and hydrogeology. The department hosts an international tenured staff of over 45 scientists and more than 100 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. The research programmes in Earth Sciences contribute strongly to Utrecht University's sustainability focus areas of Energy & (Geo-)resources, Water, Climate & Ecosystems, and Smart Materials. The Department of Earth Sciences is currently looking for an: Postdoc in GeochemistryProject title: "Response of global biogeochemical cycles to climate-induced changes in the hydrological cycle". Climate-induced and direct human impacts on the hydrological cycle have consequences for the transfer of carbon and nutrients from land to sea via rivers and for the production and emission from freshwater ecosystems. The goal of this research project is to understand to what degree, where and how multiple human changes in the global water and nutrient cycles have influenced terrestrial and aquatic biogeochemical processes. To this end a global hydrological model will be coupled to an integrated assessment model for describing nutrient transport and delivery to streams and rivers and a model for in-stream biogeochemistry. The postdoc will couple a global hydrological model with mechanistic, numerical biogeochemical models for material exchange between soil and water and within water to understand the direction and predict the magnitude of changes in greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) along the aquatic continuum (from plot scale to coastal ecosystems). This information will provide the urgently needed dynamic feedbacks for System Earth models and quantitative data for integrative assessments. The project is one of 7 postdoc projects in a larger programme that investigates "The future global water cycle". Utrecht University initiated the programme to answer the key question: "How will changes in the global water cycle govern future conditions on planet Earth?" This question relates to understanding and projecting how human activities and climate change will influence water scarcity and abundance and indirectly impact food security, flood risk, human health, socio-economic development and biodiversity. The programme involves the three UU-faculties of Geosciences, Sciences, and Law, Economics & Governance. Qualifications: We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a Ph.D. degree in Geochemistry relevant to the above fields, an excellent publication record, proven analytical and modelling skills, and a positive attitude to interdisciplinary research and team work. We are specifically looking for excellent candidates with a CV and the writing skills (in English) to be competitive in applying for additional funding during the period of your employment. The candidate must be able and willing to help in supervision of BSC-, MSc- and PhD-students. Terms of employment: The successful candidate will be offered a full-time postdoctoral position, initially for 1 year, but with the possibility of extension to a total of 2.5 years upon a positive evaluation. Employment conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement of the Dutch Universities. The gross monthly salary is dependent of experience and starts at a minimum of € 2,799 per month. The salary is supplemented by a holiday allowance of 8% per year and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. We also offer a pension scheme, a health insurance allowance and flexible employment conditions. Further details: Additional information can be obtained from Prof. Lex Bouwman (a.f.bouwman@uu.nl) or Prof. Marc F.P. Bierkens (m.f.p.bierkens@uu.nl). How to apply: Visit http://www.geo.uu.nl/vacancies, find the equivalent of this advertisement under "7 Postdocs and 1 Scientific Programmer Future Global Water Cycle" and fill in the application form. Please, attach your motivation for the position, a statement of your research and teaching interests, a curriculum vitae, and the names and contact addresses of at least two referees (with e-mail contact addresses). Applications are accepted until October 31, 2013. We seek to appoint as soon as possible thereafter. |
