Ph.D. Positions in soil science

are available within the project MediAN: "Mechanisms of ecosystem services in hardwood floodplain forests: Scientific analysis and optimization of conservation management". Pristine hardwood forests belong to the most species-rich ecosystems in Central Europe. Besides their ability to provide diverse habitats, they offer valuable ecosystem services for water retention, carbon sequestration or climate protection. The overall research aim of the project MediAN is a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the ecosystem services of hardwood floodplain forests and, further, to quantify the spatio-temporal variability of these services. Scientists from the fields of Plant Ecology (University of Hamburg), Soil Science (University of Hamburg), Soil Zoology (Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz), Nature Conservation (Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig) and Landscape Economy (TU Berlin) work together to analyse which biodiversity components affect the ecosystem services and how to assess them. We are looking for highly motivated young researchers who are interested to work in an interdisciplinary project. At the University of hamburg, we offer 1 Ph.D. position (4 years 65 % at the salary level TV-L13) in the fields of soil science (MediAN-03): Median-03: The ecosystem functions of soils will be quantified with regard to carbon sequestration and flood retardation. The focus will lie on the role of floodplain soils in the carbon cycle with emphasis on soil-vegetation interactions. For more information: http://uhh.de/08dzg The University aims at increasing the number of women in research and explicitly encourages qualified women to apply. Equally qualified female applicants will receive preference in accordance with the Hamburg Equality Act (Hamburgisches Gleichstellungsgesetz).