PhD fellowship in forest carbon stock and resource modelling, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, the section of Forest and Bioresources

 PhD fellowship in forest carbon stock and resource modelling

PhD Project in forest growth modelling and carbon chain analysis

Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, the section of Forest and Bioresources invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in modelling the development in forest resources and carbon stocks. The project is part of the research project “Silviculture for climate change mitigation”, which is financed by The Danish Agricultural Agency as part of the research reserve.

Start date is expected to be 1 August 2023  or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

The proposed project focuses on the development of tools necessary for coherent analysis of emission profiles including cross-sectorial emissions and temporal aspects of forest carbon capture and storage hitherto not combined in previous studies. With multiple pathways that forests may aid in the green transition, i.e., afforestation, setting aside of untouched forests, or managing forests for wood production and bioenergy, the proposed project centers itself in the middle of a pertinent and needed debate about the climatic consequences of forest development.

The proposed project aims to develop a coherent tool for the cross-sectorial analysis of carbon chain emissions while supporting the implementation of alternate forest management regimes. Hereby, it is an underlying goal of the project to support policy development resting on objective and quantifiable criteria.

Specifically, the project aims to analyze:

How do forest carbon stocks develop according to regional differences and forest types and how may temporal carbon development be quantified by statistical models?

How can different scenarios reflecting varying objectives for the Danish forest resource be described and included in decision support systems?

How may temporal forest carbon chain emission profiles be modelled including aspects related to indirect affects on adjourning landscapes and sectors?

How may the various aspects of forest carbon emissions be collected in a single model for projecting the role of forests in climate change mitigation and what are the potentials of Danish forests for contributing to reaching climate goals at short to long term?

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates with a background in the fields of forestry, silviculture, and statistical analysis and modelling. Candidates with documented knowledge modelling forest growth and development are preferred. Further, applicants with documented experience in completing a scientific manuscript will be prioritized. However, we are also seeking a motivated and creative PhD student with good interpersonal and communication skills.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

The PhD research will be carried out in the Forest and Bioresource section. The group is a part of the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. The selected candidate will be integrated into a team of researchers working on various aspects of silviculture, forest management and carbon dynamics of forests. The group collaborates with research groups and National Forest Inventories in the other European countries. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment.

Principal supervisor is Senior scientist Thomas Nord-Larsen, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, tnl@ign.ku.dk. Phone: +45 3533 1758 / +45 4032 4394

The PhD programme

The PhD programme is a three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree. 

Qualifications needed for the PhD  programme

To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. forestry, silviculture and statistical analysis and modelling. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the PhD programme

Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme

Carry through an independent research project under supervision

Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE

Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad

Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities

Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals

Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project

Relevant publications

Relevant work experience

Other relevant professional activities

Curious mind-set with a strong interest in forests and climate change mitigation

Good language skills

Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

Your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project

Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position

Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.

Publication list (if possible)

Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 12 May 2023, 23:59 GMT +2.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process

After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 26 and 27.

Questions

For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. 

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

Info

Application deadline: 12-05-2023

Employment start: 01-08-2023

Working hours: Full time

Department/Location: Institut for Geovidenskab og Naturforvaltning

Apply Now