The complex interactions of climate change with land use changes and increasing competition of food, fiber and bio-fuel production for natural resources call for an integrated research aiming to develop appropriate mitigation and adaptation options. WASCAL (West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use) is a large-scale research-focused program designed to help tackling this challenge and thereby to enhance the resilience of human and environmental systems to climate change and increased variability. It does so by strengthening the research infrastructure and capacity in West Africa related to climate change and by pooling the expertise of ten West African countries and Germany.
Your task is to investigate the impacts of climate and technology on the provision of food, feed and fiber in the WASCAL focus regions. In addition, the environmental impacts of technological adaptation options under climate change will be analyzed. Mathematical modeling and scenario analysis complemented by field experiments and data mining are major methods being used. You will work on the improvement of agro-ecosystem models at different spatial scales in order to elucidate uncertainties related to model approaches and scaling issues. The models will help in identifying the current and future climatic stressors and their impacts on crop production. Your work also includes building up and leading a group of PhD students, who will be contributing to the objectives and tasks of the project. Long-term field experiments will be established and monitored under your supervision. You will also contribute to the Agricultural Model Improvement and intercomparisson Project (AgMIP).
We are looking for a highly motivated person to work in an interdisciplinary and international team. The successful candidate has a PhD degree in agriculture, soil science, geo-ecology or related sciences with a background in crop production and/or soil science and expertise in using simulation models. Experiences in developing process-based, numerical models at the soil-plant interface and in computer programming (C++, C sharp) is an advantage. Ability to frequently travel to West Africa is expected and a good command of English is required. Knowledge of the French language and work experiences in Africa would be beneficial.
We offer a full position paid according to the German regulations for scientists at the Post Doc level (TVL-13). Applicants with more than three years of experiences in scientific research may be eligible for additional upgrades. The project will run over a period of 4.5 years with an initial phase of 12 months. The project has been started on 1st August and the position is available immediately.
Applications of handicapped persons will be favored when all other qualifications are equal. Female candidates are encouraged to submit their applications. Applications (CV including photograph, diploma/masters, statement of research interests and achievements) should be sent to
Dr. Thomas Gaiser
Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation
University of Bonn
D-53115 Bonn, Germany
Email: tgaiser@uni-bonn.de
For further information concerning the project visit the WASCAL website at http://www.wascal.org/. Information about our institute is published at http://www.lap.uni-bonn.de/home?set_language=en.