1 PhD position in Dynamic Vegetation Modelling in Germany | Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main

Within the framework of the BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research) funded project 'ARS AfricaE', the Institute of Physical Geography, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main together with the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), invites applications for a PhD student, savanna vegetation modeling (65% TV-G-U E13, 3 years).

Land use and climate change play an important role in the functioning of semi-arid savanna ecosystems. An international consortium of German, Zambian, and South African scientists will study these influences within the interdisciplinary research project 'Adaptive Resilience of Southern African Ecosystems' (ARS AfricaE). Investigations will be based on different approaches such as field measurements, remote sensing, ecological modeling, and socio-economic surveys with the aim to combine knowledge and to derive sustainable management scenarios for the study region.

The aim of work package 2 is to conduct a field survey to collect data on vegetation structure, phenology and gas exchange and to use data collected by the consortium to parametrize and benchmark a process based, dynamic vegetation model (the aDGVM). The model will then be used for projections of the future vegetation state in the study region.

Your tasks:

• Parametrize and benchmark the vegetation model aDGVM for the study region
• Project future vegetation state, biodiversity and biome boundaries in the study region
• Cooperate with partners of the 'ARS AfricaE' project

Your profile:

• Masters or diploma in biology, ecology, physics, mathematics, geography or related fields
• Interest or experience in dynamic vegetation modeling and plant ecology
• Experience in programming (preferentially C++) are an advantage
• Good skills in written and oral English

Salary and benefits are in accordance with a public service position in Germany (TV-G-U E13, 65%). The contract shall start January, 1st 2015 and will be limited to a 3-year term. The Goethe University supports equal opportunity of men and women and therefore strongly invites women to apply. Equally qualified handicapped applicants will be given preference. The type of handicap should not prevent work needed to conduct the research. The duty station will be Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Dr. Simon Scheiter

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Application Deadline : 26 October 2014