The Peatland Ecology Group at the University of Helsinki and the Finnish Forest Research Institute seeks a postdoctoral researcher to work on plant-soil processes in peatlands under a warming climate. The position is for three years, and will be based in Helsinki.
The successful applicant will participate full-time in a project funded by the Academy of Finland, entitled “Plant-soil Processes in Peatlands Under a Warming Climate.” This project will investigate the impacts of warming and water table level drawdown on:
– Carbon gas exchange between ecosystem and atmosphere;
– Above- and below-ground carbon inputs into the soil (quantity and chemical quality);
– Organic matter decomposition; and
– Allocation of carbon within the system.
The project includes a considerable amount of field work outside the Helsinki region.
Interested applicants should have a PhD with research experience in ecology or comparable fields (e.g., biology, forest sciences, biogeochemistry), and have knowledge of vegetation, carbon gas dynamics, and northern ecosystems. Other qualifications include the motivation to carry out field studies, experience in analyzing complex data, and the desire and proven ability to prepare manuscripts for peer-review in a timely manner. An understanding of process modeling and/or organic chemistry, as well as experience in labeling experiments are desirable.
The preferred start date for the position is April-May 2011. Interested applicants should send a cover letter (please include reference code 400-41-11), curriculum vitae, brief statement of research interests, and the names and contact information of three references to:
Finnish Forest Research Institute
Box 18/Jokiniemenkuja
01301 Vantaa
Finland
Email: kirjaamo@metla.fi
Application deadline: Friday, 1 April 2011.For questions, please contact:
Eeva-Stiina Tuittila
Phone: +358 9-1915-8147
Email: eevastiina.tuittila@helsinki.fi
Kari Minkkinen
Email: kari.minkkinen@helsinki.fi
Hannu Fritze
Email hannu.fritze@metla.fi
Raija Laiho
Email raija.laiho@helsinki.fi