Applications are invited for a PhD position at the University ofAarhus, the Faculty of Agricultural Science, Department of Agroecologyand Environment. The position is available for three years beginning nolater than 1 January 2010.
Research area and project description
Restoration of riparian wetlands on agricultural land has a highpriority in order to fulfil obligation of good ecological quality insurface waters and favourable conservation status. Additionally, theimpact of wetland restoration on greenhouse gas emissions is of highimportance for the Kyoto protocol. Despite the high priority of wetlandrestoration there is, however, serious lacks in the documentation ofthe mitigation efficiency of restored wetlands, and predictive modelsare lacking. This PhD project aims to provide the basis forscientifically based solutions for new approaches of modelling wetlandhydrology. In order to cope with the highly complex hydro-geochemicalnature of wetlands, this project applies a new approach by defining atypology of wetland classes, based on the hypothesis that keyhydro-physical and biogeochemical parameters from main classes can beused for modelling wetland hydrology and predicting nutrienttransformation. Further it’s hypothesized that wetland hydrology andhydrochemistry controls the development of wetland habitats, and thatthere is a relation between key hydrological descriptors and habitatshaving a favourable conservation status. The project involves extensivefield work as well as mathematical modelling.
The PhD project is embedded in the Strategic Research project“Development and Test of New Cost-Effective Monitoring Technologies andPlanning Design for Restoration of Wetlands, MONITECH” (2009-2013)headed by research Professor Brian Kronvang, Department of FreshwaterEcology, The National Environmental Research Institute, University ofAarhus. We are looking for a strong PhD candidate to work as a part ofthe MONITECH project team with eight scientists from the Dept. ofAgroecology and Environment and the Dept. of Freshwater Ecology, threePhD students and three international partners. The PhD candidate musthave a general background in hydrology, soil science, biology orrelated fields and have strong mathematical and programming skills.Main supervisor will be senior researcher Hans Estrup Andersen fromAarhus University, the National Environmental Research Institute,Department of Freshwater Ecology, Aarhus University. Co-supervisors aresenior researchers Bo V. Iversen and Charlotte Kjærgaard, Faculty ofAgricultural Sciences, Department of Agroecology and Environment. ThePhD student will be affiliated to the International Research EducationProgramme for Soil Technology and Interdisciplinary Research in Soiland Environmental Sciences, STAiR www.stair.agrproject.dk
Qualifications
Applicants to the PhD position must have a relevant Master’s degree (orgraduate in the very near future – documentation for final thesis anddate of examination must be enclosed in the application) or equivalent.
Place of Employment and Place of Work
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work isthe Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele.However, the candidate’s office is, until further notice, located atthe National Environmental Research Institute, Department of FreshwaterEcology, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
Salary and Terms of Employment
Salary and terms of employment are according to current agreement forstate-employed academics and government circular from the Ministry ofFinance regarding PhD students as well as the appointment structure of2007 for scientific personnel at universities.
The salary level for PhD students with qualifications corresponding toa Danish Master degree is approx. DKK 288,000 per year excludingpension (corresponding to USD 48,600 / EUR 38,600 per year – dependingon the rate of exchange at the actual time of employment).
Matriculation as a PhD student will be in accordance with MinisterialOrder no. 18 of 14 January 2008 on the PhD Programme at Universities,and matriculation at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences is aprerequisite for employment as a PhD student.
Applicants seeking further information are invited to contact seniorresearcher Hans Estrup Andersen, tel.: +45 8920 1488 or e-mail:hea@dmu.dk
Application
A written application should be marked ”JPM PhD-Hydrology”. Four copiesof the application including: motivation letter, curriculum vitae,diplomas, references, and other relevant material should be sent to:
University of Aarhus
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Department of Agroecology and Environment
P.O. Box 50
DK-8830 Tjele
Denmark
Alternatively, applications may be sent by e-mail to jpm.djf@agrsci.dk
Closing date for applications is May 29, 2009 12.00 noon.
Applications received after the closing date for applications will not be considered!
The University of Aarhus encourages all, irrespective of personal background, to apply.
The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences is a faculty at Aarhus University.The faculty employs approx. 900 staff members. The activities at theFaculty of Agricultural Sciences are primarily carried out at Foulum(near Viborg), Aarslev (near Odense), Flakkebjerg (near Slagelse) andSorgenfri (near Kgs. Lyngby). For further information: www.agrsci.org
Aarhus University offers a good and inspiring education and researchenvironment for 35,000 students and 8,500 members of staff, who produceacademic results of a high international standard. The budgetedturnover for 2009 amounts to EUR 700 million. The university’s strategyand development contract are available at www.au.dk |
