Doctoral scholarship carbon and water balances of Flemish ecosystems and their vulnerability to climate extremes

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Let’s shape the future – University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow’s world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

The Centre-of-Excellence Global Change Ecology, Research Group Plants and Ecosystems, is now looking for a full-time (100%) doctoral scholarship holder in the field of carbon and water balances of Flemish ecosystems and their vulnerability to climate extremes.

Position

Natural ecosystems are currently absorbing almost half of the CO₂ emitted by humans, but this service is increasingly compromised by climate change. This PhD scholarship allows a young researcher to prepare a PhD thesis on the carbon uptake and water balance of four Flemish ecosystems, their changes over time, and their sensitivity to climate extremes. Specifically, the researcher will analyze the ongoing eddy covariance – (and many other) measurements made by the FWO-funded ICOS-Flanders international research infrastructure project (www.icos-belgium.be, www.icos-cp.eu) to study the exchanges with the atmosphere, while changes in soil carbon stocks are also a focus of the PhD study. The four study sites include a forest in Brasschaat, a heathland in Maasmechelen, and two cropland sites in Westmalle: one with current agricultural practices continued and one with carbon farming management. Results of this research will be published in peer reviewed international journals, but also in newsletters to relevant stakeholders. An expert group of (co)promotors will guide the PhD student through this endeavor.

Profile

• You hold a Master degree recognized by the EU (or you will have obtained it by the time you start working) in one of the following disciplines: Biology, Bio-engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Informatics.
• You can demonstrate excellent study results.
• You show strong interest in climate change and nature-based solutions.
• You know how to work with large datasets and have good knowledge of statistics/ knowledge of machine learning tools.
• You have experience in programming in R, Python or Matlab.
• You are solution-oriented and a critical thinker.
• You are creative.
• You are a team player, but can also work independently.
• You have excellent writing and communication skills and are fluent in English.

What we offer

• We offer a doctoral scholarship in a Centre-of-Excellence on a topic of high societal importance.
• We offer a full four year PhD trajectory, albeit with an evaluation after 9 months. Hence, we start with a one-year contract.
• The planned start date is September 2023.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• You will be based at the Campus Drie Eiken of Antwerp University in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.

Want to apply ?

• You can apply for this vacancy up to July 10th 2023. Be sure to include a CV and especially a motivation letter.
• The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure.
• If you have any questions about the job content, please contact. Dr. Fran Lauriks (Fran.Lauriks@uantwerpen.be) or Dr. Marilyn Roland (Marilyn.Roland@uantwerpen.be).

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.