Research Associate for the Project “COLDSPOT – Arctic greenhouse gas sinks: exploring coldspots of methane and nitrous oxide in the permafrost domain” § 28 Subsection 3 HmbHG

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications. They may also pursue doctoral studies outside of working duties.

We are looking for a PhD student working in the project “Arctic greenhouse gas sinks: exploring coldspots of methane and nitrous oxide in the permafrost domain (COLDSPOT)”, funded by the European Research Council. The PhD position will be part of a new research group established in close collaboration between the Alfred-Wegener Institute and the University of Hamburg.

The release of greenhouse gases from the terrestrial biosphere is of global importance. The Arctic is a net source of the greenhouse gases methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), and a biogeochemically important ecosystem due to immense soil carbon and nitrogen pools and above-average warming. An observation-bias in Arctic greenhouse gas reporting towards high-emitting ‘hotspot’ sites is evident. COLDSPOT will focus on sites in the Arctic that act as CH4 and N2O sinks, removing these climate-relevant gases from the atmosphere.

This exciting PhD project will explore the biogeochemical and microbial functioning of these trace gas sinks by a combination of field measurements and novel laboratory experiments with samples from diverse Arctic locations in Canada, Finland, and Greenland. These include, for example, incubation experiments with nutrient and temperature manipulation treatments, and measurements of microbial gene abundances.

We are looking for a highly-motivated candidate with an interest in soil greenhouse gas dynamics, and in particular an interest to explore how underlying processes in the plant-soil-microbe continuum regulate greenhouse gas fluxes. We provide the opportunity to work in a dynamic team of experts, and to use state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. The PhD student is expected to participate in field expeditions and collaborate closely with team members and project partners, including research visits to other institutes. Scientific results have to be presented in scientific meetings and conferences as well as through publications in scientific journals. PhD candidates are members of our graduate school which aims to help young academics thrive through all stages of their training. For more information please check this link: https://www.sicss.uni-hamburg.de/.

Along with the application, please provide us with a cover letter, copies of degree certificates, list of publications (if any), and a CV including names and contact details of two references.