Postdoc position (2 years) focusing on earthworm effects on plants and soils in northern ecosystems - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Umeå University, Sweden, invites applicants for a postdoc position (2 years) focusing on earthworm effects on plants and soils in northern ecosystems. The position is based in Umeå, with the potential for practical work in Uppsala, Sweden. Start date July 1st, 2023 or according to agreement. Application deadline is May 27th, 2023.

Project description
Earthworms are powerful ecosystem engineers that alter the physical and biogeochemical properties of the soil, through increased litter decomposition, soil mixing, and changing soil microbial and faunal communities. Thus, earthworms have strong effects on plant communities and ultimately ecosystem functioning. Though earthworms are widely present in most of Europe, northern regions of Scandinavia are still largely lacking burrowing earthworm species. The expansion of such species into northern forests is facilitated by both climate change and human influence and may have dramatic effects on the important carbon storage function of these soils. Indeed, recent results suggest that decomposition is stimulated largely if earthworms are added to northern soils, leading to strong increases in plant productivity, shifting plant community composition, and changing carbon and nitrogen cycling.

The aim of this project is to understand and quantify the impacts of burrowing earthworm expansion on plant-soil interactions or soil food webs in Sweden’s northern forests, and how these changes feedback onto ecosystem processes. We will use controlled mesocosm experiments to quantify the effects of burrowing earthworms on northern soils and plants. There are also opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration with other projects studying earthworms, for example with eDNA techniques.

Work tasks
We are now inviting applicants for a postdoc-position within the above project. The holder of the position will investigate how the invasion of burrowing earthworms into northern Swedish soils will affect plant-soil-interactions and ecosystem processes. The specific focus of this postdoctoral position will be developed together with the candidate, based on their skills and interests, and could include (belowground) plant traits, soil food webs, or carbon or nitrogen cycling.

The project will benefit from ongoing collaborations within an international team of researchers at Umeå University and SLU in Uppsala. We will use techniques from plant ecology, soil (faunal) ecology, or biogeochemistry. The position is based in Umeå but most of the experimental work will be done in mesocosms in Uppsala with the option for additional fieldwork in northern Sweden.

The hosts will be Dr. Gesche Blume-Werry and Dr. Eveline Krab (SLU Uppsala).

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 a person with interest in earthworm effects on plant-soil-interactions or soil foodwebs and a PhD degree in ecology, biogeochemistry, physical geography, or other relevant field.

The successful applicants should further have demonstrated experience of ecological fieldwork, 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 this position are knowledge of boreal forest ecosystems, soil ecology, terrestrial biogeochemistry, and good knowledge of techniques used to study plant communities and ecosystem carbon or nitrogen cycling, as well as statistics. Evaluations will be based on the application, references, and interviews.

How to apply
You apply through our recruitment system on May 27th, 2023 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
• 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 or other relevant scientific publications (max. 5)
• Names and contact information of three reference persons

Contact
For more information please contact Gesche Blume-Werry (gesche.blume-werry@umu.se) or Eveline Krab (eveline.krab@slu.se).