[AgMIP] PhD Position: Dynamics of land use change and the consequences on water and nutrient cycles: the case of Mau Forest

[agmip at lists.agmip.org]

PhD Position: Dynamics of land use change and the consequences on water and nutrient cycles: the case of Mau Forest

Chair: Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU)

Place: Station base, Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Nairobi, Kenya

Contact: Dr. Eugenio Diaz-Pines

 
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: the case of Mau forest

Land-use and land-cover changes are a major contributor to global and regional climate change. In the last few decades large areas of the Mau Forest, a mountainous forest area in the Kenyan highlands, 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 social and economic and political drivers.
·         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 the Mau Forest complex (hydrological and biogeochemical models).
The work will be carried out in close cooperation with CIFOR, Nairobi, Kenya. The applicant will be based at CIFOR and is expected to work in an interdisciplinary team of scientists.

Funding for this position is through the BMBF and the Helmholtz Association.

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 October 2013.

 
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.
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:
Dr. Eugenio Diaz-Pines (Scientist) and Prof. Dr. Klaus Butterbach-Bahl ( Head of Division Bio-Geo-Chemical Processes” 
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research/ Atmospheric Environmental Research;
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT/IMK-IFU); Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19;
82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. 
E-mail: eugenio.diaz-pines at kit.edu

Complete applications should be received by August 20, 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.
 
 
Dr. Eugenio Díaz-Pinés
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research
Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany)
eugenio.diaz-pines at kit.edu
+49 (0) 8821 183 309
Fax: +49 (0) 8821 183 294