Click here for advertisement opportunitiesPhD Position: Dynamics of land use change and the consequences on water and nutrient cycles
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and its Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research/ Atmospheric Environmental Research (KIT/IMK-IFU) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, invite applications to the open position of a Ph.D. student position Dynamics of land use change and the consequences on water and nutrient cycles in forest transitions of East Africa Land-use and land-cover changes are a major contributor to global and regional climate change. The KIT is the fusion of the former University of Karlsruhe and the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe. This makes KIT a unique institution in Germany, combining the missions of a university and that of a national research centre in the Helmholtz-Association. With a staff of 8000 and an annual budget of EUR 650 Mio., KIT ranks among the largest institutions of research and higher learning worldwide. In the last few decades large areas of the mountainous forests in East Africa have been converted to agriculture with so far unquantified consequences for regional water and nutrient cycles. This study focuses on the following topics: Quantification of landuse change in the last 3-4 decades and identification of drivers of change.Estimation of water and nutrient balances resulting from land use change. This will be done by catchment studies and measurement of water and nutrient fluxes.Integration of field and modeling studies to estimate changes in ecosystem services due to landuse change in mountainous forests (hydrological and biogeochemical models). The work will be carried out in close cooperation with CIFOR, Nairobi, Kenya.
The applicant will be based in Kenya and is expected to work with an interdisciplinary team of scientists. Funding for this position is through the BMBF and the Helmholtz Association. Requirements:
Employer: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research
Location: Germany
Posted: November 25, 2013
Expires: December 31, 2013
Qualifications: Master’s Degree
Requirements:
• M.Sc. degree in a quantitative environmental sciences discipline, for instance forestry, environmental sciences, ecology, hydrology.
• Spatial analysis skills, i.e. GIS and remote sensing.
• Experience in water and soil analysis.
• Knowledge of programming and model development.
The Ph.D. position will be for a maximum period of three years. The position is due to start in February 2013.
Applications must include:
• Letter of motivation which states why the candidate is suitable for this position and her/his motivation to work in East Africa,
• curriculum vitae,
• copy of university certificates,
Address to:
PD Dr. Ralf Kiese and/ or Prof. Dr. Klaus Butterbach-Bahl
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research/ Atmospheric Environmental Research;
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT/IMK-IFU); Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19;
82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
E-mail: ralf.kiese@kit.edu
Complete applications should be received by December 31, 2013. Only complete applications from candidates who fit the outlined profile will receive full consideration. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate has been identified.
KIT strives to achieve gender balance at all levels of employment. We therefore particularly encourage female candidates to apply for this position. With appropriate qualifications, applications from persons with handicaps will be treated with preference.
To Apply visit following link: http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/login
Read more about Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, visit: http://www.kit.edu/english/
