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Tropical peatlands, carbon cycle
Postdoc, Tropical peatlands carbon cycling - Exeter, UK
Location
Exeter
United Kingdom
Category
Post date
Tuesday, July 23, 2024 - 09:36
Logistics
University of Exeter
Faculty: Environment, Science and Economy
Post: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Reference No: R81054
Grade: F
HERA: RFEL
Reporting To: Prof. Angela Gallego-Sala
The above full-time post is available from 1st July 2024 until 31st January 2026 in the Faculty.
Faculty: Environment, Science and Economy
Post: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Reference No: R81054
Grade: F
HERA: RFEL
Reporting To: Prof. Angela Gallego-Sala
The above full-time post is available from 1st July 2024 until 31st January 2026 in the Faculty.
Description
The successful applicant will join a research team to work with Prof. Gallego-Sala and a wider team of
experts on the ERC funded project “TroPeaCC: Tropical Peatlands and the Carbon Cycle” addressing the
key questions: will tropical peatlands become a carbon source or sink in the future?
And more generally, in understanding interactions between climate and low-latitude peatland carbon dynamics.
Tropical peatlands are the most carbon-dense ecosystems in the world and they store the equivalent of ~10 years of global fossil fuel emissions in their soils. Despite their importance, crucial questions remain about carbon cycling in tropical peatlands and improving understanding is critical as they are at high risk from both climate change and land use change. Protection and improved management of tropical peatlands can also play an important role in meeting the greenhouse gas emissions targets set out under the Paris Agreement.
Under intact conditions tropical peatlands sequester carbon in their soils, but also emit methane through
methane producing micro-organisms present in the waterlogged conditions. With the impacts of land use and climate change, carbon dynamics are likely to shift. While tropical peatland research has primarily focused on carbon dioxide losses from drainage affected peatlands, there is a considerable gap in the knowledge around the pristine peatland carbon sink and methane dynamics, including the environmental drivers of CH4 and CO2 cycling from these systems and their net effect on radiative forcing, and thus climate change.
This is a collaborative project with a large internal team and many external collaborators. This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 865403).
experts on the ERC funded project “TroPeaCC: Tropical Peatlands and the Carbon Cycle” addressing the
key questions: will tropical peatlands become a carbon source or sink in the future?
And more generally, in understanding interactions between climate and low-latitude peatland carbon dynamics.
Tropical peatlands are the most carbon-dense ecosystems in the world and they store the equivalent of ~10 years of global fossil fuel emissions in their soils. Despite their importance, crucial questions remain about carbon cycling in tropical peatlands and improving understanding is critical as they are at high risk from both climate change and land use change. Protection and improved management of tropical peatlands can also play an important role in meeting the greenhouse gas emissions targets set out under the Paris Agreement.
Under intact conditions tropical peatlands sequester carbon in their soils, but also emit methane through
methane producing micro-organisms present in the waterlogged conditions. With the impacts of land use and climate change, carbon dynamics are likely to shift. While tropical peatland research has primarily focused on carbon dioxide losses from drainage affected peatlands, there is a considerable gap in the knowledge around the pristine peatland carbon sink and methane dynamics, including the environmental drivers of CH4 and CO2 cycling from these systems and their net effect on radiative forcing, and thus climate change.
This is a collaborative project with a large internal team and many external collaborators. This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 865403).
Tasks
The successful applicant will play a key role in the TroPeaCC project, as a modeller to develop the land component of the UK Earth System Model to make future projections of the fate of tropical peatlands under climate change and their role in the global carbon cycle. This post is available immediately until 31st January 2026.
In this post, you will extend the group’s newly developed model of peatland ecosystems to the tropics.
Specifically, you will compile existing data and run JULES (Joint UK Land Environment Simulator), to evaluate simulations of ecosystem fluxes of energy, water and carbon at the site level across multiple tropical locations. You will parameterise the model and use it to make future projections of tropical peatland carbon balance and quantify the uncertainty.
You will be expected to gather, handle and analyse complex datasets, write up results for publication and presenting the work in conferences, i.e. you will be expected to be part of the team that brings the TroPeaCC project to a successful completion.
Main duties and accountabilities
1. To undertake research as appropriate to the field of study. The responsibilities may include all or some of the following:
• Acting as principal investigator on research projects;
• Developing research objectives, projects and proposals;
• Conducting individual or collaborative research projects;
• Identifying sources of funding and contributing to the process of securing funds;
• Extending, transforming and applying knowledge acquired from scholarship to research and
appropriate external activities;
• Writing or contributing to publications or disseminating research findings using media appropriate to the discipline;
• Making presentations at conferences or exhibiting work in other appropriate events;
• Assessing, interpreting and evaluating outcomes of research;
• Developing new concepts and ideas to extend intellectual understanding;
• Resolving problems of meeting research objectives and deadlines;
• Developing ideas for generating income and promoting research area;
• Developing ideas for application of research outcomes;
• Deciding on /following research programmes and methodologies, often in collaboration with colleagues and sometimes subject to the approval of the head of the research programme on fundamental issues.
2. To contribute to teaching and learning programmes in the School and to supervise postgraduate research students.
3. To act as research team leader including:
• Mentoring colleagues with less experience and advising on their professional development;
• Coaching and supporting colleagues in developing their research techniques;
• Supervising the work of others, for example in research teams or projects;
• Developing productive working relationships with other members of staff;
• Co-ordinating the work of colleagues to ensure equitable access to resources and facilities;
• Dealing with standard problems and help colleagues to resolve their concerns about progress in research.
4. To routinely communicate complex and conceptual ideas to those with limited knowledge as well as to peers using high level skills and a range of media and to present the results of scientific research to sponsors and at conferences.
5. As determined by the nature of the project and at the direction of the PI, to plan, co-ordinate and
implement research programme activity including:
• Managing the use of research resources and ensuring that effective use is made of them;
• Monitoring and reporting on the use of research budgets;
• Helping to plan and implement commercial and consultancy activities;
• Where appropriate, to plan and manage own consultancy assignments.
This job description summarises the main duties and accountabilities of the post and is not comprehensive:
the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties of similar level and responsibility. Please visit the Human Resources website to view the Research Fellow role profiles.
In this post, you will extend the group’s newly developed model of peatland ecosystems to the tropics.
Specifically, you will compile existing data and run JULES (Joint UK Land Environment Simulator), to evaluate simulations of ecosystem fluxes of energy, water and carbon at the site level across multiple tropical locations. You will parameterise the model and use it to make future projections of tropical peatland carbon balance and quantify the uncertainty.
You will be expected to gather, handle and analyse complex datasets, write up results for publication and presenting the work in conferences, i.e. you will be expected to be part of the team that brings the TroPeaCC project to a successful completion.
Main duties and accountabilities
1. To undertake research as appropriate to the field of study. The responsibilities may include all or some of the following:
• Acting as principal investigator on research projects;
• Developing research objectives, projects and proposals;
• Conducting individual or collaborative research projects;
• Identifying sources of funding and contributing to the process of securing funds;
• Extending, transforming and applying knowledge acquired from scholarship to research and
appropriate external activities;
• Writing or contributing to publications or disseminating research findings using media appropriate to the discipline;
• Making presentations at conferences or exhibiting work in other appropriate events;
• Assessing, interpreting and evaluating outcomes of research;
• Developing new concepts and ideas to extend intellectual understanding;
• Resolving problems of meeting research objectives and deadlines;
• Developing ideas for generating income and promoting research area;
• Developing ideas for application of research outcomes;
• Deciding on /following research programmes and methodologies, often in collaboration with colleagues and sometimes subject to the approval of the head of the research programme on fundamental issues.
2. To contribute to teaching and learning programmes in the School and to supervise postgraduate research students.
3. To act as research team leader including:
• Mentoring colleagues with less experience and advising on their professional development;
• Coaching and supporting colleagues in developing their research techniques;
• Supervising the work of others, for example in research teams or projects;
• Developing productive working relationships with other members of staff;
• Co-ordinating the work of colleagues to ensure equitable access to resources and facilities;
• Dealing with standard problems and help colleagues to resolve their concerns about progress in research.
4. To routinely communicate complex and conceptual ideas to those with limited knowledge as well as to peers using high level skills and a range of media and to present the results of scientific research to sponsors and at conferences.
5. As determined by the nature of the project and at the direction of the PI, to plan, co-ordinate and
implement research programme activity including:
• Managing the use of research resources and ensuring that effective use is made of them;
• Monitoring and reporting on the use of research budgets;
• Helping to plan and implement commercial and consultancy activities;
• Where appropriate, to plan and manage own consultancy assignments.
This job description summarises the main duties and accountabilities of the post and is not comprehensive:
the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties of similar level and responsibility. Please visit the Human Resources website to view the Research Fellow role profiles.
Requirements
-Qualifications-
Essential:
PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study (environmental physics, tropical ecology, peatland science, carbon cycle science, mathematics, etc.).
Desirable:
Be a nationally recognised authority in the subject area.
-Skills and Understanding-
Essential:
Possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop/follow research programmes and methodologies.
Evidence of computer programming (e.g. FORTRAN, C and/or C++), and wider computing skills (e.g. R, Python or Matlab or similar).
Record of research output in high quality publications.
Desirable:
Evidence of research activity and
published research. Experience of environmental
modelling, especially of land surface models.
Understanding of methane and carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems and/or peatlands.
-Prior Experience-
Essential:
Experience of managing research projects and research teams.
Desirable:
Experience of undergraduate/postgraduate teaching and supervision. Experience of acting as principal investigator on
research projects.
Experience at running the Joint UK Land Environment simulator at site-level.
Experience working with Eddy Covariance datasets to evaluate land surface models.
Demonstrated evidence of high quality research outputs (e.g. peer-reviewed publications) based on land surface modelling of
vegetation processes.
Understanding of carbon cycling in peatlands, including methane
-Behavioural Characteristics-
Essential:
Excellent written and verbal
communication skills.
Able to communicate complex and conceptual ideas to a range of groups.
Evidence of the ability to collaborate actively within the Institution and externally to complete research projects and
advance thinking.
Able to participate in and develop external networks.
Able to balance the pressures of research, administrative demands and competing deadlines.
An understanding of the importance of equality and diversity within an organisation and a commitment to helping
create an inclusive culture.
Desirable:
Able to identify sources of funding, generate income, obtain consultancy projects, or build relationships for future activities.
Able to communicate and engage using online tools
-Circumstances-
Essential: Willing to work flexibly to achieve project demands
Essential:
PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study (environmental physics, tropical ecology, peatland science, carbon cycle science, mathematics, etc.).
Desirable:
Be a nationally recognised authority in the subject area.
-Skills and Understanding-
Essential:
Possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop/follow research programmes and methodologies.
Evidence of computer programming (e.g. FORTRAN, C and/or C++), and wider computing skills (e.g. R, Python or Matlab or similar).
Record of research output in high quality publications.
Desirable:
Evidence of research activity and
published research. Experience of environmental
modelling, especially of land surface models.
Understanding of methane and carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems and/or peatlands.
-Prior Experience-
Essential:
Experience of managing research projects and research teams.
Desirable:
Experience of undergraduate/postgraduate teaching and supervision. Experience of acting as principal investigator on
research projects.
Experience at running the Joint UK Land Environment simulator at site-level.
Experience working with Eddy Covariance datasets to evaluate land surface models.
Demonstrated evidence of high quality research outputs (e.g. peer-reviewed publications) based on land surface modelling of
vegetation processes.
Understanding of carbon cycling in peatlands, including methane
-Behavioural Characteristics-
Essential:
Excellent written and verbal
communication skills.
Able to communicate complex and conceptual ideas to a range of groups.
Evidence of the ability to collaborate actively within the Institution and externally to complete research projects and
advance thinking.
Able to participate in and develop external networks.
Able to balance the pressures of research, administrative demands and competing deadlines.
An understanding of the importance of equality and diversity within an organisation and a commitment to helping
create an inclusive culture.
Desirable:
Able to identify sources of funding, generate income, obtain consultancy projects, or build relationships for future activities.
Able to communicate and engage using online tools
-Circumstances-
Essential: Willing to work flexibly to achieve project demands
Applications
Please apply here: https://jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecruitment/wrd/run/etrec179gf.open?WVID=171839ediw&LANG=USA
IMPORTANT: The job advert Reference number for this particular position (to type in under keywords) is: R81054
IMPORTANT: The job advert Reference number for this particular position (to type in under keywords) is: R81054
Application deadline
Further information
For more information, please check the University of Exeter's website: https://jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecruitment/wrd/run/etrec179gf.open?WVID=171839ediw&LANG=USA
The job advert reference number is: R81054
Before submitting an application you may wish to discuss the post further by contacting Dr. Angela GallegoSala, Professor, email: A.Gallego-Sala@exeter.ac.uk.
The job advert reference number is: R81054
Before submitting an application you may wish to discuss the post further by contacting Dr. Angela GallegoSala, Professor, email: A.Gallego-Sala@exeter.ac.uk.
Contact email