项目介绍

2024年11月29日

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Biogeochemistry with focus on carbon dynamics, climate change ecology, remote sensing, quantitative ecology. 

At the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BioEnv) we have teaching and research activities that stretch from the alpine ecosystem, through forests, cultivated land and streams, all the way into the marine environment. In these environments we study different levels of biological organisation from genes, individuals and populations, to communities and ecosystems. We work within ecology, evolution, physiology, systematics and combinations of these fields in order to understand the impact of natural and anthropogenic changes of the environment.

The department is placed at two different localities: in Natrium at Medicinaregatan 7B in Gothenburg and at the Kristineberg marine research station operated by the Marine Infrastructure at the University of Gothenburg. The current position is placed at Natrium.

We offer

The University of Gothenburg is a state authority, which means special benefits, more holidays and a great pension. You can read more about our employment benefits here.

Subject area

Biogeochemistry with focus on carbon dynamics, climate change ecology, remote sensing, quantitative ecology. 

Subject area description 

The International Tundra Experiment, with its standardised warming treatments and protocols, has revealed that the tundra vegetation will grow taller, increase in biomass and shift composition. This change in vegetation composition and structure is bound to influence the ecosystem’s carbon balance, increasing productivity and respiration rates. A recent effort looking at ecosystem respiration using the TundraFlux database showed that a modest warming of air temperatures (1.4 °C) generated a 30% increase in ecosystem respiration (Maes et al., 2024). So far, the sequestration rates (carbon sink strength) have been overlooked in synthesis efforts, despite their critical role in shaping carbon dynamics. Especially data from long-term manipulation experiments, mimicking a future climate, have been less used when it comes to carbon balance, where soil moisture or shortage in soil water availability (heavily dependent on meltwater from winter snow) is overlooked as a driver for carbon processes.

This postdoc position, which is a combination of funding from the strategic research area BECC – Biodiversity and Ecosystem services under Climate Change and Hasselbladstiftelsen, will update and utilize the TundraFlux database as well as the extended ITEX database (ITEX+) and the Tundra Trait database to investigate warming and soil moisture effect on the Arctic carbon dynamics, including gross primary production. Additional data from remote sensing will be used to generate uniform environmental drivers of tundra carbon dynamics. This is a collaboration across departments at the University of Gothenburg, but also across universities and research groups within ITEX and the TundraFlux database contributors, with a strong link to Umeå University and KU Leuven, among others.

Duties 

This employment will combine aspects of biogeochemistry, Arctic carbon balance, climate change ecology, remote sensing and quantitative ecology to conduct multi-site syntheses of ecological and biogeochemical data, including:

• addressing novel questions related to how environmental change drives shifts in the biochemical cycles with a focus on the carbon balance in the warming Arctic and Alpine tundra ecosystems
• compilation, merging, management and manipulation of large, complex datasets – including correspondence with data collectors and collaborators
• using advanced quantitative methods (including meta-analysis) to analyse datasets in R (preferred) or another programming language; version control and code-sharing using GitHub
• writing scientific manuscripts to present the results of this research in a clear, impactful way

In addition to research, a postdoc can assist in teaching (up to a maximum of 20% of the time) if desired and teaching is needed at the department. Fieldwork is not anticipated for this position but may be possible if desired.

Eligibility 

The eligibility criteria for employing teaching staff are set out in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the Appointment Procedure for Teaching Posts at the University of Gothenburg.  

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree, a doctoral degree in art or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made. 

In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area.  

Assessment criteria 

We are seeking a motivated person with expertise in the field of plant ecology, biogeochemistry or natural geography with a strong background in quantitative methods.

Required qualifications for the employment:  

• To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree in Ecology, Biogeochemistry, Geography, or another relevant field
• Excellent communication skills, written and spoken, in English since we work in an international environment
• Evidence of previous scientific production (scientific publications, conference presentations, etc.)
• Extensive experience with statistical methods/programming & management of large datasets
• Ability and desire to work as part of a team, including mentorship of MSc and PhD students in the group
• Knowledge of biogeochemical processes, especially concerning carbon balance in terrestrial ecosystems
• Ability and desire to lead large-scale synthesis

Desirable qualifications for the employment:

• Experience working with large datasets from multiple sources, ideally regional to global (or biome-wide) in scope
• Experience in measuring biogeochemical processes, especially carbon fluxes
• Background and interest in ecological processes and carbon uptake and emissions
• Prior experience working as part of a large (ideally international) collaborative network

A major focus of the research group is on the consequences of climate change for Arctic and alpine ecosystems; thus, prior experience in Arctic/alpine ecology or similar is considered a bonus, but not required.

As leader of an international synthesis project, you will need to coordinate a large group of collaborators and data owners. Thus, good communication and organizational skills are essential. In addition, we are seeking a new member of our joint APE/EDGE environment who will be an active and willing participant in lab meetings and discussion groups, and in helping – informally and/or officially – to mentor junior members of the group.

The application should preferably be written in English and must include:

• A cover letter with the applicant’s justification for the application, i.e., that describes how the applicant meets the selection criteria
• A list of qualifications (CV)
• Contact information for at least two references
• Certificate of PhD exam
• Complete list of publications, including submitted and accepted manuscripts

The most qualified candidates, in relation to the assessment criteria in the advertisement, are invited for an interview.

Employment 

The employment is a temporary employment during two years, 100 % of full time, placed at the Department of Biological and Environmental Science. Starting date as soon as possible or upon agreement.

Contact information 

If you have any questions about the position, please contact  

Mats Björkman, Senior Lecturer
Phone: +46 766 181820
Email: mats.bjorkman@bioenv.gu.se
Webpage: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/hitta-person/matsbjorkman

Åsa Arrhenius, Head of Department
tel. +46 31 786 26 25
Email: asa.arrhenius@bioenv.gu.se

If you have any questions about the employment process, please contact HR at the Department of Biological and Environmental Science, hr@bioenv.gu.se.

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande 

Application 

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.  

Publications that cannot be attached to the application in digital format should be mailed in three copies to:

Department of Biological and Environmental Science
Att: Mats Björkman
University of Gothenburg
Box 461 or 463
S-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden 

Label the envelope ” Postdoc position in biogeochemistry focusing on the Arctic carbon balance in a warmer climate, PAR 2024/1061″. The publications must be received no later than the application deadline.

Applications must be received by: December 19th, 2024

Information for International Applicants 

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit: 

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services 
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/