Environmental Physiologist: Specializing in flux towers, 12 month post doctoral fixed term contract.
Cirad is recruiting a post-doctorate researcher with a view to evaluating the influence of the change in land use on the partition between the “green water”, transpired by plants, and “blue water”, which is a resource for soil, rivers, lakes and aquifers. Assigned to the Ecosystems and Plantations research unit, and the new Eco&Soils “Functional Ecology and Biochemistry of Soil and Agro-ecosystems” mixed research unit (UMR), (s)he will be responsible for coordinating the network of flux towers (savannah, plantation, natural forest), for identifying the determinants of the partition between transpired water and drained water on the three eco-systems, and modelling the dynamics of water storage and flows essentially. Description of the Position More specifically, the candidate will have to (i) take part in the creation of two flux towers (savannah, which will be planted, and natural forest; 6 first months of the project) and monitor the entire system with the help of the CRDPI's technical personnel and an international volunteer who will also be recruited to carry out this task; (ii) follow training courses organised as part of the climafrica project and more generally any graduate school that may be able to complete his/her profile; (iii) contribute strongly to the unit’s summarising publications in terms of water and carbon flows, particularly for the savannah ecosystem, which has been monitored for three years (alongside the unit’s researchers and post-doctorate researchers); (iv) contribute to studies on water flows in the three ecosystems, notably using the isotope analyser and models operating at ecosystem level; (v) more generally, contribute to the CRDPI's scientific life (seminars, environmental physiology training for technical personnel, management of a student from Brazzaville university). Profile Required Doctorate in environmental physiology, with significant expertise in flux towers. Good knowledge of SVAT models. Aptitude for multidisciplinary work and team work. Capacity to work in Southern countries (assignments or expatriation). International research experience would be a plus, particularly in tropical environments. Fluent English (written and spoken) essential. Location: Congo – Pointe Noire For more information: Jean-Michel Harmand UPR Correspondent for the Operation and Coordination of Plantation Ecosystems s/c UMR Eco&Sols 2 Place Viala Bât 12 34060 Montpellier cedex 01 France Tel.: +33 4 99 61 21 68 Email: jean-michel.harm...@cirad.fr
