Vacancy: Post-Doctoral Research Associate at Univ. of Bayreuth (Germany)

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Climatology and Remote Sensing/Modeling

The climatology lab (Prof. Dr. Thomas Nauß) at Bayreuth University seeks to fill a 3-years postdoctoral research associate position (salary according to federal TV-L E13)
for its collaborative research within the recently approved and interdisciplinary research unit
”Kilimanjaro ecosystems under global change: Linking biodiversity, biotic interactions and
biogeochemical ecosystem processes” which is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Background:
Biodiversity and supportive ecosystem processes maintained by tropical mountain ecosystems are particularly threatened by the combined impacts of global warming and
the conversion of natural to human-modified landscapes. In this context, the new research unit aims  (i) in the relation of climate and anthropogenic disturbance to both biogeochemical processes and species/interaction diversity, (ii)the quantification of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships along altitudinal gradients and (iii) the estimation of resilience and adaptive potential of natural and  modified ecosystems to global change. It encompasses 3 scientists at the post-doctoral and 12  scientists at the PhD-level distributed over eight subprojects focusing on climate, biogeochemical ecosystem  processes, biodiversity and
biotic interactions of plants and animals, and data base management (see http://www.bayceer.unibayreuth.de/kilimandscharo).

Responsibilities:
Along with a local research associate from Tanzania (Mr. Mwangomo, chief ecologist of the Kilimanjaro national park), the successful candidate will be responsible for the
working packages within the climatology subproject (Prof. Dr. Nauß/Bendix/Hemp/Brujinzel) which aims  in the generation of satellite- and model-supported area-wide datasets on the landscape scale  as a basis for further integrative analysis. The main working packages are:
(i) the provision of high resolution hourly meteorological datasets, (ii) the preliminary adaptation of a limited-area atmospheric model to the Kilimanjaro region and (iii) the provision of basic satellite-based land cover information. For  the first working package, the installment of 5 main climate stations along an  altitudional gradient is mandatory.

Required Qualifications:
We are looking for an enthusiastic, flexible and highly motivated person with excellent interpersonal skills, an educational background in geography, meteorology, physics or
similar and a PhD in a field of climatological research. You should posses the willingness and physical condition to stay at the project-owned Kilimanjaro research station (1800 m a. s. l., well equipped bedrooms, bathrooms, labs etc.) for several weeks to months per year and the ability to conduct excellent research including documentation in a peer-reviewed literature. Expertise in climate  station management, satellite remote sensing, atmospheric modeling, and/or proficiency with  programming/scripting languages is a plus.

Application:
Please submit your letter of application and a resume with the names and telephone numbers of three references in PDF format to <Eveline.Loebl@uni-bayreuth.de> or by mail
at Mrs. Evelin Löbl, climatology office, Bayreuth University, 95440 Bayreuth. For best consideration, applications should be received by March 31, 2010, although the vacancy will
be held open until a suitable candidate is appointed.