Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems Department:

Ref: 1136

We require a Postdoctoral Research Scientists (or equivalent experience) for "Developing soil-plant-atmosphere models of perennial bio-energy crops (Miscanthus and SRC willow)". This post will be based at Rothamsted Research in the Agro-ecological and Systems Modelling Group within the Rothamsted Centre for Bioenergy and Climate Change.

We seek candidates with experience in modelling the soil-plant-atmosphere system who can contribute to the development of an integrated agro-ecosystem model for Miscanthus and willow models for the assessment of biomass production systems in relation to the physical and climatic environment and the impact on soil carbon sequestration in particular.

The post will contribute to the NERC-funded research initiative on the environmental impact of land-based renewable energy technologies and be part of two interdisciplinary consortia. The roles of the posts located at Rothamsted Research within these projects will be the deployment of models for the carbon, energy and water balance and crop growth at the catchment and sub-regional scale and the development of methods of up-scaling processes of soil-crop-atmosphere interactions.

Candidates should have completed a PhD, or have equivalent experience, in Environmental or Agricultural Sciences. Previous experience of modelling the soil-plant-atmosphere system is essential and a background in soil science or agricultural meteorology and skills in biophysics would be helpful. Knowledge of mathematical modelling and Object-Oriented Programming is desirable.

Further information on the programme on Bioenergy at Rothamsted Research can be found at http://www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/Research/Centres/index.php?Centre=BCC and under the bioenergy links (RELU-Biomass and TSEC-Biosys) at http://www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/pie/

This position is available for a period of 18 months full-time (part-time employment may be possible) within Band D-PD, which has a normal starting salary within the range of £26,610 to £29,566 per annum. The anticipated start date is October 2010.

Apply by application form only, available with further particulars from www.rothamsted.ac.uk or from the HR Group, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ rres.hr@bbsrc.ac.uk

Please quote the reference number above.

Closing date: 17 September 2010