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Organization: University of Copenhagen

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Field: Life Sciences

Requirements:

Key criteria for the assessment of candidates
•A master´s degree related to the subject area of the project
•The grade point average achieved
•Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD programme
•Previous publications
•Relevant work experience
•Other professional activities
•Language skills
•Interpersonal skills
•Marks obtained during the first year of study on the master programme (only relevant for applicants applying for a 4-year scholarship)

Formal requirements
The positions are available for a 3-year period for applicants holding a relevant master´s degree or for a 4-year period for applicants who are already enrolled or are accepted to be enrolled at one of the Faculty´s master´s programmes.
At the time of commencement, applicants for the 4-year period must have approximately one year of study remaining before graduating from their MSc programme.

The Ph.D. student will be enrolled at the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, within the Research School for Forest, Landscape and Planning - REFOLANA. The project involves collaboration with research partners in the FUNDIV consortium, and within Forest & Landscape the Ph.D. student will also belong to a research group working on C and N in forest ecosystems.

Abstract:

Forest and Landscape Denmark, Faculty of Life Sciences at University of Copenhagen is offering a PhD scholarship commencing June 1, 2011 or soon thereafter. The application deadline is March 25, 2011

Description:

Project description
The ongoing biodiversity loss has prompted concerns that the functioning of ecosystems and the services provided to humans may be compromised. The functional role of biodiversity in terms of the effect on various ecosystem services is still little understood and to a lesser extent quantified. In European forestry, the functional effect of different individual tree species and tree species diversity, i.e. tree species mixtures, on ecosystem services remains to be quantified. This knowledge is needed to assess the consequences of different forest management schemes and to guide forest management for optimal provision of ecosystem services. The forests of Europe constitute a significant carbon sink, and the management of these forests to maintain this ecosystem service is essential for Europe´s greenhouse gas balance. At the same time, it is crucial that forests retain high N inputs from atmospheric deposition for provision of ecosystem services such as pure ground and surface water and soil quality. Only few field-based studies are available to assess soil C and N dynamics in stands of pure and mixed species and few attempts have been made to review and synthesize effects functional diversity of tree species. The aim of the Ph.D. project is to investigate the influence of the most common European tree species and their mixtures on soil C and N stocks as well as their depth distribution and dynamics.
 
The Ph.D. project is an integrated part of the large EU FP7-project FunDivEurope that will explore how tree species diversity affects a broad range of ecosystem services. The Ph.D project makes use of selected tree species diversity gradients in 6 case study areas across Europe. Forest floor and mineral soil samples will be taken by local field teams according to a standardized methodology. The samples will be analysed for C, N, available nitrate-N, pH, root biomass and bulk density. The data will be used to estimate C and N stocks that will be evaluated in connection with available information on site properties, litter quality, litter production, decomposition rates and soil fauna (earthworm activity). Based on the ratio between litterfall C and forest floor C indices of C turnover can be estimated for this large number of stands. Part of the work will involve cooperation with other subprojects in FunDivEurope. The basic measurements may be supplemented at a few selected sites by more specific indicators of C and N cycling.
 
The appointee should have qualifications within the following areas:

• Experience with field work and an interest for analytical work and for developing technical solutions.
• Soil science and biogeochemistry, quantification of carbon and nitrogen pools and fluxes
• Forest ecology and nutrient cycling
• Multivariate statistics

 
Principal supervisor
Title: Senior scientist
Name: Lars Vesterdal
E-mail: lv@life.ku.dk
Direct Phone: (+45) 35331672
Department: Forest & Landscape Denmark
 

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at LIFE are:

• Manage and carry through your research project
• Take PhD courses
• Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis
• Participate in international congresses
• Stay at a research institution abroad for a few months
• Teach and disseminate your research

Terms of employment
The position will be filled according to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The post is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.
 
Application Procedure
All applicants must use the formal PhD application form, F1, the specified annexes, excl. annex 3 (Ph.d. plan), are to be included in the application. Instead of the Ph.D. plan mentioned as annex 3 the applicant should provide a short description of personal qualifications and motivations of relevance for the Ph.D. scholarship.
 
Applicants whose principal language of instruction during their BSc/MSc was not Scandinavian or English must enclose IELTS or TOEFL test scores.
 
The application should be submitted in two signed printed copies and one complete PDF file on a CD-ROM or USB memory stick (i.e. forms F1 and all enclosures gathered in a single PDF file).
 
It is not possible to submit the application via e-mail.
 
The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation Executive Order no 284 of 25. April 2008.
 
By the end of April 8, 2011, all applicants will have received information regarding the evaluation of their application. Receipt of the application will not be acknowledged.
 
The application, marked 212-251 should be sent to:
 
Forest & Landscape Denmark
University of Copenhagen
Rolighedsvej 23,
DK-1958 Frederiksberg C
DENMARK
 
The application must be received no later than March 25, 2011 at 12.00 pm (noon). Applications received later than this will not be considered.
 
 
Questions
For specific information about the PhD scholarship, please contact the principal supervisor.
 
General information about PhD programmes is available at www.LIFE.ku.dk/LIFEphd.
 
 
About LIFE
Based in a country that has the world´s most environmentally friendly agricultural production and located in Medicon Valley, among global pharmaceutical, biotech and food companies, the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Copenhagen is situated in the heart of one of the world´s strongest life science environment

Deadline: 25-03-2011

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