Denmark: PhD Scholarship in Plant Eco Physiology

The Ecosystems Programme at Risø National Laboratory DTU (ECO) offers a three years PhD position starting in June 2010.

The Project
A long-term climate change effects study in heathland, “CLIMAITE” (climaite.dk), was started in 2005. CO2 concentrations, temperature and summer drought are manipulated in a full factorial design according to the expected climate change in 2075. The PhD project will study eco physiological plant responses to climate manipulation. The PhD project rests on three related approaches:

Comparative analysis of eco physiological field parameters. Periodic, high precision CO2 / H2O gas exchange measurement of key eco-physiological model parameters conducted in the field in order to assess the seasonality in one year
Canopy gas exchange measurements under controlled conditions. In a controlled environment, model parameters will be derived from ecosystem samples (e.g. monolith studies) enabling to investigate clear cause-effect relationships
Modelling of carbon dioxide exchange between vegetation and atmosphere. Modelling will be used to interpret the observed eco physiological responses in the field in terms of consequences for major carbon fluxes in the ecosystem

The PhD project will be an important part of CLIMAITE and is related to several large EU-projects. It will take advantage of a unique experimental setup with many years of exposure and a large database including biological and environmental field data. The PhD student will work together with other PhD students, technicians and scientist in a well organised and highly motivated research atmosphere. We offer in depth training in eco physiological field methods, model parameter calculation, and introduction in the use of a process based canopy model.

Qualifications
Candidates should have a master’s degree in engineering or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to the master’s degree in engineering. Also we seek an energetic and skilled candidate with strong interest in plant eco physiology, field work and data analysis. Interest in electronic data processing, e.g. R will be of advantage. Ability for easy going communication (English) and mutual commitment to effective team work are highly desired. The work requires a driving licence.

Opportunities
The ECO programme offers family friendly and pleasant working conditions in a team of internationally acknowledged scientist, technicians and students. The Danish Technical University (DTU) is among the leading European technical Universities and offers excellent training opportunities for PhD students. The project will be supervised at DTU and co-supervised at University of Copenhagen.

*Approval and Enrolment *
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes of DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.

Salary and appointment terms
The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students. The period of employment is 3 years.

Application
We must have your online application by 15 April 2010. Please apply online on www.dtu.dk/vacancy and open the link “apply online”, fill in the application form and attach your application documents, such as short description of personal motivation and qualification, C. V., publication list, addresses and e-mail of two references, copies of educational documents.

Further information
Please contact Teis N. Mikkelsen, +45 2227 7162 or Andreas Ibrom, +4546774177. Read more about the Biosystems Division and Risø DTU at risoe.dtu.dk.