Doctoral scholarship holder plant and soil ecology

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

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The Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science is looking for a full-time

doctoral scholarship holder in the field of Plant and Soil Ecology

Position

“Mechanistic understanding of below- and aboveground interactions in temperate trees in heavily acidified soils for restoration and carbon sequestration potential”

In highly urbanized European regions, decades of increased nitrogen deposition has led to high soil acidification in forest soil, with great damage to soil and trees. Recently, addition of basalt to forest soil has been proposed as a way to mitigate soil acidity and concurrently improve carbon sequestration via enhanced weathering. This PhD project will study these dynamics by investigating growth and phenology of aboveground (leaves and cambium) and belowground (symbionts, soil microbes, fine roots) components of deciduous trees and forests under natural-, acidified- and basalt amended soil. These objectives will be experimentally addressed with ecophysiological (e.g. phenological observation), microscopic (e.g. mycorrhizal hyphal root and soil colonization) and molecular (e.g. metabarcoding, metatranscriptomics) methods in growth chambers, common gardens and mature trees in forests. The project will reveal the complex relationship between above and belowground growth under different soil conditions and contribute to solve the two great environmental challenges of our society represented by the mitigation of soil acidification and climate change.

• You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis on the above subject.
• You will publish scientific articles related to the research project.
• You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for the Department of Biology.

Profile

• You hold a Master degree in Biology, Bioengineering, or related field or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
• You can demonstrate excellent study results.
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• Experience in ecophysiological measurements of trees (aboveground/belowground) is an asset.
• Experience in (molecular/microscopic) work with mycorrhizal fungi is an asset.
• You need to have relevant experience with data analysis and statistics using the R program or similar programming languages (e.g. SAS, Matlab).
• You need to be fluent in written and oral English.

What we offer

• We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed once for another two-year period.
• The planned start date is 1 August 2024 or as soon as possible after that date.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• You will receive ecocheques, internet-connectivity allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• You will do most of your work at Campus Drie Eiken in Research Group PLECO in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

 Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including May 1, 2024 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button and complete the online application form. Be sure to include the following attachments:
  • a motivation letter
  • your academic CV
  • two files with results of a data analysis competence test: (i) a report and (ii) a file with the code used (more info about the data analysis competence test is to be downloaded here https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/pleco/organisation/vacancies---employme/).
• The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you. If you are still eligible after the pre-selection, you will be informed about the possible next step(s) in the selection procedure.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Erik Verbruggen, erik.verbruggen@uantwerpen.be of prof. Matteo Campioli, matteo.campioli@uantwerpen.be.

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.