PhD Studentships and Research Assistant, HYDROMET

PHD STUDENTSHIP NO.1
Soil carbon stock changes and greenhouse gas fluxes in forest ecosystems

Centre for Hydrology, Micrometeorology and Climate Change,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University College Cork, Ireland

Duration: 4 years.
Value of Studentship:Approx. €18,000 per annum (plus fees). Tax-exempt.
Closing Date:Friday 16 March 2007

The successful applicant will investigate the following: (i) carbon stock and stock changes in Irish forest soils. This will follow a paired plot approach where soil carbon stocks will be measured at 30 forest sites and 30 sites representative of the pre-afforestation land use at each site (ii) greenhouse gas fluxes in recently afforested grassland. CO₂ exchange will be measured using eddy covariance and CH₄ and N₂0 fluxes will be measured using chamber techniques.

In addition, the successful candidate will:

• Possess an undergraduate (first or upper second class) or Masters degree in Forestry, Environmental Science, Ecology, Meteorology, Engineering, Applied Physics or a related discipline.
• Have numerical analysis skills in FORTRAN, Matlab, IDL, C/++ or a similar environment.
• A full clean driving licence is desirable.
  
  Further information on the research activities of the Centreis available at http://www.hydromet.org/. For informal discussion contact: Dr. Ken Byrne (k.byrne@ucc.ie) or Prof. Ger Kiely (g.kiely@ucc.ie).

Candidates should submit a letter outlining their suitability for the position and a full curriculum vitae, to include the names, addresses and emails of three referees, to:

Dr. Ken Byrne,
Centre for Hydrology, Micrometeorology and Climate Change,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University College Cork, Ireland.
Email: k.byrne@ucc.ie

This position is funded by the Irish Council for Forest Research and Development (COFORD)

PHD STUDENTSHIP NO.2
Greenhouse gas fluxes in peatland forests

Centre for Hydrology, Micrometeorology and Climate Change,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University College Cork, Ireland

Duration: 4 years.
Value of Studentship:Approx. €18,000 per annum (plus fees). Tax-exempt.
Closing date:  Friday, 16 March 2007
The successful applicant will investigate the affect of afforestation on the greenhouse gas balance (GHG) in blanket peatlands. The study will be based on a chronosequence which will include a pristine blanket peatland and at least four forest site spanning the full rotation. Soil fluxes of CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O will be measured using chamber techniques. Litterfall and fine root turnover will also be studied.

In addition, the successful candidate will:

• Possess an undergraduate (first or upper second class) or Masters degree in Forestry, Environmental Science, Ecology, Meteorology, Engineering, Applied Physics or a related discipline.
• Have numerical analysis skills in FORTRAN, Matlab, IDL, C/++ or a similar environment.
• A full clean driving licence is desirable.

Further information on the research activities of the Centre is available at http://www.hydromet.org/. For informal discussion contact: Dr. Ken Byrne (k.byrne@ucc.ie) or Prof. Ger Kiely (g.kiely@ucc.ie).

Candidates should submit a letter outlining their suitability for the position and a full curriculum vitae, to include the names, addresses and emails of three referees, to:

Dr. Ken Byrne,
Centre for Hydrology, Micrometeorology and Climate Change,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University College Cork, Ireland.

Email: k.byrne@ucc.ie

This position is funded by the Irish Council for Forest Research and Development (COFORD)

LABORATORY AND FIELDRESEARCH ASSISTANT / TECHNICIAN / ENGINEER
Centre for Hydrology, Micrometeorology and Climate Change,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University College Cork, Ireland

Duration: 18 months.
Salary:Up to €35,000 depending on experience.
Closing date:Friday, 16 March 2007

The successful applicant will undertake an extensive programme of soil sampling at a range a forest sites throughout Ireland. This will include laboratory analysis of all soil samples collected. In addition the post will involve assisting research students in the establishment of research sites and subsequent field work.

In addition, the successful candidate will:

• Possess an undergraduate (first or upper second class) or Masters degree in Forestry, Environmental Science, Ecology, Meteorology, Engineering, Applied Physics or a related discipline.
• Have well developed skills in field work.
• Have experience in laboratory methods of soil analysis.
• Have numerical analysis skills in FORTRAN, Matlab, IDL, C/++ or a similar environment.
  A full clean driving licence is desirable.

Further information on the research activities of the Centre and on the posts is available at http://www.hydromet.org/. For informal discussion contact: Dr. Ken Byrne (k.byrne@ucc.ie) or Prof. Ger Kiely (g.kiely@ucc.ie).

Candidates should submit a letter outlining their suitability for the position and a full curriculum vitae, to include the names, addresses and emails of three referees, to:

Dr. Ken Byrne,
Centre for Hydrology, Micrometeorology and Climate Change,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University College Cork, Ireland.

Email: k.byrne@ucc.ie

This position is funded by the Irish Council for Forest Research and Development (COFORD)