Post doc in plant and ecosystem responses to drought and soil biodiversity change

Organisation/Company

Universite de Montpellier

Department

Human Resources

Research Field

Environmental science » Ecology

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

France

Application Deadline

29 Mar 2024 – 23:59 (Europe/Paris)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

38

Offer Starting Date

1 May 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

HE

Reference Number

2024-R0151

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The project aims at a better understanding of the interactive effects of soil fauna functional diversity and an increasing intensity of summer drought on the functioning of a Mediterranean forest ecosystem. The main objectif is the quantification of different properties and processes at the ecosystem scale and their modifications through a change in functional diversity of the soil fauna community and higher summer drought. The use of the European Ecotron of Montpellier allows an experimental test of the interactions between chaning soil fauna diversity and drought. With continuous measurements of gas fluxes at the ecosystem scale as well as with the determination of plant growth and allocation patterns, it will be possible to study these interactive effects comprehensively. It will also be possible to better understand more specific responses, such as ecosystem C storage, root traits across the soil profile, plant phenology, the decomposition of organic matter, soil respiration, and microbial activity. Collectively, these different measurements will allow a detailed assessment of the underlying mechanisms resulting from a change in soil fauna biodiversity in interaction with drought that drive ecosystem responses. The project is part of the larger initiative “BELOW” of the BiodivOc programme (“défi clé BiodivOc”), funded by the Occitanie Region and supported by the University of Montpellier (https://biodivoc.edu.umontpellier.fr/recherche/projets-consortium/ ). “BELOW” is a collaborative project with the participation of scientists from the research units CEFE (Montpellier), SETE (Moulis), LEFE (Toulouse), Eco&Sols (Montpellier), and the Ecotron (Montpellier). In addition to the large experiment at the Ecotron, this postdoc is focussing on, “BELOW” also includes a major activity at natural sites covering agricultural fields and natural ecosystems in the Occitanie region permitting a wider interaction within the consortium and beyond on different types of ecosystems using different approaches.

Main mission: The work will focus more explicitely on the analysis of already available data from the final harvest in the Ecotron experiment. The main subject are above- and belowground responses of plants and soil organisms to changes in the functional diversity of soil fauna and increased summer drought in a Mediterranean forest ecosystem.

The postdoc will be expected to organize the data, their statistical analysis and interpretation in interaction with the scientists involved in the project. The postdoc will also prepare and submit manuscripts based on these data and participate at international congresses to present the findings.

Requirements

Research Field

Environmental science » Ecology

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

PhD thesis in ecology or any other related discipline. A keen interest in plant and soil ecology with a documented track record. Knowledge in functional ecology and/or soil science and an excellent level in statistics. Strong motivation for article writing (in English). Independance in work organization and a good capacity and willingness for collaborative work.

Research Field

Environmental science » Ecology

Additional Information
Eligibility criteria

PhD thesis in ecology or any other related discipline.

Selection process

Send your CV and cover letter by email to: [email protected] and [email protected]

Additional comments

Name of the project: Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem multifunctionality in Occitanie under Water constraints

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE)

Country

France

City

Montpellier

Postal Code

34000

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

City

Montpellier

Website

http://www.umontpellier.fr/

Street

163 rue Auguste Broussonnet

Postal Code

34000

E-Mail

[email protected]
[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED