Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.

The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.

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The Department of Ecology and Environmental science (EMG) is searching for a postdoctoral researcher in Environmental Science with a focus on tropical ecophysiology, ecosystem science and climate change. The position, limited to two years of full-time employment and placed at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Umeå University, will start on March 1, 2021 or according to agreement. Last day to apply is November 30, 2020.

The Department of Ecology and Environment Sciences (EMG), Umeå University, performs research and research education in ecology, environmental science and physical geography. The department has approximately 150 employees of which about 20 are post docs. For more information about the department, see https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-ecology-and-environmental-science/

Project description and working tasks
Tropical mountain cloud forests provide a number of vital ecosystem services, in terms of biodiversity, water regulation and carbon sequestration. All of these ecological functions are threatened by climate change in the region. The project aims to investigate the speed of which the climate changes affects tropical forests.

This project builds upon an existing unique experimental infrastructure (www.cloudcurtain.org) simulating one important component of expected  climate changes – reduction of rainfall and cloud water inputs. We have already collected a strong basic data series on meteorology and carbon cycling at the site. In the current project we want to substantially extend this work with a suite of novel, cutting edge approaches (hyperspectral image analysis from drones, ecophysiological modelling, analysis of ecophysiology and biogeochemistry) and with the collaborative support of a multidisciplinary team of local scientists and institutions.

The proposed work will involve extended fieldwork at the study site in pristine tropical cloud forest in Peru. This includes:

(i) coordinate ongoing site measurements on plant / soil carbon stocks and meteorology and

(ii) initiate the following substantial new research programs within:

(1) Plant ecophysiology - What causes plant mortality following drought?

(2) Plant traits - do plant traits explain the risk and type of drought-associated mortality across plant groups?

The balance and focus among programs for the project is flexible depending upon the skill set and interests of the postdoctoral researcher.

The post doc must be willing to travel extensively and spend long periods of time doing fieldwork.

Qualifications

Required qualifications

A person who has been awarded a doctorate or a foreign qualification deemed to be the equivalent of a doctorate qualifies for employment as a postdoctoral fellow. Priority should be given to candidates who have completed their doctoral degree in a relevant area (environmental sciences, ecology, soil science, physical geography) no more than three years before the closing date of the application. A candidate who has completed their degree prior to this may be considered if special circumstances exist. Special circumstances include absence due to illness, parental leave or clinical practice, appointments of trust in trade unions or similar circumstances.

We are searching for a postdoc with the following qualifications:

  • Good knowledge of ecosystem biogeochemical, plant ecophysiological or soil biochemical analytical methods.
  • Good knowledge of quantitative analysis, particularly statistics.
  • Good knowledge in oral and written English, and experience of scientific publication.
  • Good ability to work independently and to organize one’s own work schedule.
  • Good ability to work successfully within a team, and to manage and lead a team.

Desirable qualifications

  • Experience of field work in remote sites, particularly in tropical forest and in South America.
  • Skills in spoken/written Spanish language.
  • Documented knowledge and experience of basic medical emergency training.
  • Experience with applying for and winning grants or other awards.

Application
A full application should include:

  • Personal letter (maximum two pages)Curriculum vitae (CV) with publication list.
  • Certified copy of doctoral degree certificate.
  • Certified copies of other diplomas, list of completed academic courses and grades.
  • Copy of doctoral thesis and possibly x number of relevant articles.
  • Contact information for at least two reference persons.
  • Other documents wished to be claimed.

The application can be written in Swedish or English, preferably English. The attached documents should be in Word or PDF format. The application must be submitted via Umeå University's e-recruitment system Varbi/MyNetwork at the latest November 30, 2020

Contact
Further details regarding this position are provided by Professor Daniel Metcalfe: daniel.metcalfe@umu.se

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment March 1st, 2021 or accordning to agreement
Salary Monthly salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Umeå
County Västerbottens län
Country Sweden
Reference number AN 2.2.1-1432-20
Contact
  • Professor Daniel Metcalfe, 090-786 50 00
Union representative
  • SACO, 090-786 53 65
  • SEKO, 090-786 52 96
  • ST, 090-786 54 31
Published 29.Oct.2020
Last application date 30.Nov.2020 11:59 PM CET

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