PhD position in Modelling pH effects on GHG emissions from agricultural soils (Braunschweig)

The Institute of Climate Smart Agriculture, one of 14 specialized institutes of the Johann Heinrich von
Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, invites
applications for a

Scientific assistant position

with 65 % of the regular working time from 18.09.2017 for a period of 6 months. The successful applicant will collect and process data on the pH state and liming practice of agricultural soils in North and Central Europe.
Requirements:
A Master’s degree in agricultural science, environmental science, geoecology, physics (or equivalent)

Experience with process based modeling of soil- vegetation- atmosphere (SVAT) systems

Experience with a scriptable programming language (Python, R)
Experience with GIS systems (ArcGIS, GRASS)

Solid knowledge of carbon and nitrogen cycling in SVAT systems

Highly motivated and creative personalities

Excellent written skills in English

Willingness to travel to conferences and workshops within Europe
Employment complies with the German wage agreement for the civil service sector (TVöD Bund), salary group E 13.The temporary employment period is in accordance with § 14 Abs. 2 of the German Teilzeit- und
Befristungs-gesetz. The announcement is therefore addressed exclusively to persons who have not been employees of the Federal Republic of Germany with either a time-limited or unlimited
contract.

The Thünen Institute promotes the professional equality of women and men and thus expressly welcomes applications from women.
Handicapped persons with equal qualifications will be particularly considered. The positon requires only a minimal level of physical ability. If you have any questions about this job vacancy, please contact Rene Dechow
(rene.dechow@thuenen.de, Tel.: +49 531 596-2722).
Written job applications together with curriculum vitae, tabular overview of your educational and professional career as well as copies of testimonials and certificates preferably via e-mail in one PDF
file should be sent by 20.07.2017 with the code word “MAGGE-pH modeling� to:

ak@thuenen.de
Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut
Institut für Agrarklimaschutz
Bundesallee 50
38116 Braunschweig
Kennziffer: 17-166-AK-engl

In Germany, agricultural soils are the major source of nitrous oxide emissions a potent greenhouse gas. Recent findings indicate that the pH of soils regulates enzymatic activities within the denitrification chain and thus the amount of nitrous oxide emitted to the atmosphere by agricultural soils. Therefore climate smart pH regulation within agricultural practice could mitigate nitrous oxide emissions. The project MAGGE-pH will examine mitigation potentials of climate smart pH regulation by field experiments and modeling. Based on the experimental work, the successful candidate will analyze mitigation efficiencies and trade-offs of pH management at different spatial scales based on process based and empirical modeling.
Tasks:

Data management; collecting and processing of data from lab and field experiments and data on pH state and management within the targeted region (North and Central Europe and New Zealand)

Up-scaling of the pH state based on data sets from pH surveys, soil, climate, geologic maps

Modeling pH effects on production and GHG emissions of agricultural soils using biogeochemical models

Implementation of the pH effect on direct nitrous oxide emissions into empirical models. Upscaling of this effect to the target region
Processing model output data in order to support the evaluation of incentives or regulations by agro economic modeling

Cooperation with project partners in particular with the project partners of the Thuenen Institute of Rural Studies responsible for the agro economic modeling and colleges at the
Thuenen Institute of Climate Smart Agriculture conducting mesocosm experiments
Publications in peer reviewed journals
Kennziffer: 17-166-AK-engl


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Von:

Rene Dechow
rene.dechow@thuenen.de
Thünen Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Ländliche Räume, Wald und Fischerei
Braunschweig

Ansprechpartner: Rene Dechow, rene.dechow@thuenen.de