Bioenergy Soil Carbon Scientist at The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (Lancaster, UK)

Τρίτη, Μαΐου 31, 2011

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The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), is the UK’s Centre of Excellence for research in the terrestrial and freshwater environmental sciences.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a scientist with experience in soil carbon research to join a cross-institute programme relating to predicting the environmental sustainability of bioenergy crop deployment in the UK. Your research focus will relate to the quantification of land use change (LUC) and crop management impacts on soil carbon conservation and changes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. You will have responsibility for carrying out a 3-year UK wide field survey of soil carbon stock change after LUC to a range of bioenergy crops. This will involve extended periods of fieldwork on a campaign basis.

You will also contribute to other ongoing GHG studies in established bioenergy experimental sites. It is anticipated that over the longer term you will play an important role in the development of CEH Bioenergy Research.

Main Duties

The post holder will be responsible for carrying out a nationwide soil survey across a range of UK bioenergy plantations to measure the effect of LUC on soil carbon stocks. Duties will include:

Identifying field sites through liaising with landowners and commercial organisations.
Critically assess current paired and chronosequence soil sampling methods.
Produce an updated statically robust sampling framework for use on the project.
As part of a team, significant field campaigns for soil sampling followed by sample measurements and archiving.
Analysis of data and the production of peer reviewed publications.
Effective communication of research outputs to industry, government and academia.

Skills Required

The following are essential requirements:

PhD trained and/or postdoctoral experience in a highly relevant discipline for this post.
Significant field and/or laboratory experience with relevance to soil carbon and/or GHG research.
Data analysis in statistical packages.
A full driving licence.

The following, while not essential, would be desirable:

Using stable isotopes in soil organic matter cycling studies.
Knowledge of bioenergy crop research.
The operation and maintenance of environmental analysis instrumentation.

Salary and Benefits

The salary for this post is £26,180 progressing to £29,410 per annum. In addition, NERC offers a public sector pension scheme, 30 days’ annual leave and 10½ days’ public and privilege holiday per annum. We offer a flexible and supportive working environment and will encourage your continuing professional development as part of our career support.

Applications for this role must be made online at ext.ssc.rcuk.ac.uk. If you do not have internet access or experience technical difficulties, please call 01793 867003, quoting reference number: IRC22641

Closing date is 23 June 2011.

Πηγή: ceh.ac.uk