Description
Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology
Umeå University is one of Sweden's largest institutions of higher
education with over 35,000 students and 4,200 faculty and staff. We are
characterised by world-leading research in several scientific fields and a
multitude of educations ranked highly in international comparison. Umeå
University is also the site of the pioneering discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9
genetic scissors - a revolution in genetic engineering that has been awarded
the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
At Umeå University, everything is nearby. Our cohesive campus environment
makes it easy to meet, collaborate and exchange knowledge, which promotes a
dynamic and open culture where we rejoice in each other's successes.
Are you interested in knowing more about Umeå University as a workplace read
more at:Work with us.
The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Umeå University,
Sweden, invites applicants for two postdoc positions (3 years) focusing on
year-round seasonality of plant and microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling in
the tundra, and how these are driven by environmental and community variation.
The positions are based at the Climate Impacts Research Centre in Abisko,
Sweden. Start date 1 July or according to agreement. Application deadline is
27th of May, 2022.
Project description
The positions are part of a large interdisciplinary project
(https: // kaw.wallenberg.org/en/research/winter-studies-arctic-yield-new-
insights-greenhouse-gas-emissions) that aims to understand and quantify how
processes during the arctic winter may be decisive for overall feedbacks from
arctic tundra to the global climate. Arctic ecosystems store large amounts of
organic carbon in plants and soil. Uptake of carbon by arctic plants is
strongly limited by their access to nutrients, especially nitrogen, due to
competition by microbes. Year-round carbon and nitrogen balances thus depend
on the seasonality of the activities of plant and microbial communities, and
their synchronization. In the Arctic, climate change is especially pronounced
during autumn, winter and spring, which may cause asynchronies of these
processes, leading to increased carbon and nitrogen losses and positive
climate feedbacks. This large interdisciplinary project will advance basic
knowledge of synchronies in plant and microbial activities during the cold
season. The project will further assess the environmental drivers and
community traits that may be used to up-scale and predict effects of
asynchronies on year-round carbon and nitrogen balances of tundra.
Work tasks
We are now inviting applicants for two postdoc-positions within the above
project. The holders of the positions will investigate year-round seasonal
(a)synchronies in plant and microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling in arctic
terrestrial ecosystems, and how these are driven by environmental and
community variation.
The project is funded by the Wallenberg Foundation and running 2021-2026. It
will benefit from ongoing collaborations between plant ecologists at Umeå
University and fungal and microbial ecologists at SLU in Uppsala, and will use
techniques from plant ecology, soil molecular microbiology, biogeochemistry
(including isotope-based techniques), and up-scaling based on drone
technology and satellite imaging. The project will involve a research team of
about eleven senior and postdoctoral scientists, four PhD students and two
technical staff. Most of the experimental work will be based in the
subarctic/alpine tundra and at the research facilities of the Climate Impacts
Research Centre and the Abisko Scientific Research Station in northern Sweden.
The hosts will be Dr. Ellen Dorrepaal and Professor Johan Olofsson.
Qualifications
To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, postdoctoral fellows are
required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed
equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirements must be
fulfilled no later than at the time of the appointment decision.
To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, priority should be given to
candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is
stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior. If there
are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree prior to
that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness,
parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organisations, military
service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms
of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area. Postdoctoral fellows
who are to teach or supervise must have taken relevant courses in teaching and
learning in higher education.
We are looking for two persons with interest in carbon and nitrogen cycling in
arctic terrestrial ecosystems. PhD degree must be in ecology, biogeochemistry,
physical geography, or other relevant field.
Additional requirements are good knowledge of techniques used to study
ecosystem carbon or nitrogen cycling and demonstrated experience of ecological
fieldwork. The successful applicants should further have a track record of
scientific publication in a relevant field, excellent skills in scientific
communication in English, creativity, power of initiative, independence, good
interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate.
Strong merits for these positions are knowledge of arctic terrestrial
ecosystems, terrestrial biogeochemistry, experience in the use of stable
isotopes and statistics, experience with outdoor activities under arctic
winter conditions, and a driving license for cars. Evaluations will be based
on the application, references, and interviews.
How to apply
You apply through our recruitment system on 27th of May 2022 at the latest.
The application, written in English or Swedish, should include:
A short (max. 2 pages) description of why you are interested in and suitable for the position
CV including publication list
A short (max. 2 pages) description of your reserach ideas and plans regarding this project
Verified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained
Verified copies of other diplomas, list of completed academic courses and grades
Copy of PhD-thesis and other scientific publications (max. 5)
Names and contact information of three reference persons
Contact
For more information please contact Ellen Dorrepaal (ellen.dorrepaal@umu.se)
or Johan Olofsson (johan.olofsson@umu.se)
The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science carries out research
and postgraduate education in ecology, environmental science and physical
geography. The department has about 160 employees, about 20 of whom are post-
docs. For more information, visit: https: // www. umu.se/en/department-of-
ecology-and-environmental-science/
The Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC) is part of the Department
and undertakes research in how climate and environmental changes affect the
ecosystems of the north. Part of the staff of CIRC is stationed year-round in
Abisko, Kiruna municipality. For further information, see www. arcticcirc.net.
Umeå University strives to offer an equal environment where open dialogue
between people with different backgrounds and perspectives lay the foundation
for learning, creativity and development. We welcome people with different
backgrounds and experiences to apply for the current employment.
We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising help.
Type of employment Temporary position longer than 6 months
Contract type Full time
First day of employment 2022-07-01 or according to agreement
Salary Monthly salary
Number of positions 1
Working hours 100
City Abisko
County Norrbottens län
Country Sweden
Reference number AN 2.2.1-811-22
Contact
Ellen Dorrepaal, 090-7865321
Johan Olofsson, 090-7867704
Published 05.May.2022
Last application date 27.May.2022 11:59 PM CEST
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