Apply for a 4-year PhD and Postdoctoral position in our lab at the University of Tartu, Department of Geography! We have two (2) PhD positions in Environmental Technology starting in September 2023:
1. Project “The detection and analyses of hot spots and hot moments of greenhouse gas emissions from restored wetlands”
Description:
Restoring degraded peat soils is an attractive, but largely untested climate change mitigation approach. Drained peat soils used for agriculture or for peat extraction are often large greenhouse gas sources. Restoring subsided peat soils to managed, impounded wetlands can turn these sources into carbon sinks. However, at present, the amount of scientific information available to guide such restoration decisions and assess the impact of these actions is still sparse and restoration outcomes can be low carbon uptake and high methane emissions.
Therefore, the overarching objective of this PhD project is to provide an experimental and theoretical understanding how to restore wetlands with minimised methane emissions and maximised carbon uptake. The current PhD project focuses on the spatial heterogeneity of methane emission from restored wetlands using micrometeorological and field-based techniques. The research will be carried out in three restored wetland ecosystems in Estonia but with strong collaboration with international partners.
The specific aims for this study are: 1) To detect hot spots and hot moments of methane emission in the restored wetlands and to reveal the regulating mechanisms; 2) To analyse how the vegetation development varies in the wetland and how it determines carbon sequestration efficiency and methane emission, and 3) to carry out field scale experiments to control the wetlands methane emission.
The research is part of the “Optimising Wetland Restoration and Management Strategies for Carbon Uptake” and “Restoration of Wetlands to Minimise Emissions and Maximise Carbon Uptake – A Strategy for Long Term Climate Mitigation” research projects in the Department of Geography, University of Tartu.
Requirements:
- Master’s degree in atmospheric science, environmental science, ecology, environmental engineering, or closely related field.
- The ideal candidate has proven experience in following essential skills:
- Basic knowledge in eddy covariance techniques and chamber-based greenhouse gas measurements including data processing and interpretation.
- Ability to write code for data analyses in either MATLAB, R, or Python.
- Experience in fieldwork, data collection, and carrying out ancillary measurements.
- The candidate must be able to independently conduct fieldworks, which requires a Driver’s license.
Desired knowledge and skills;
- Experience with the use of eddy covariance technique to capture CO2 and CH4 emissions over wetland ecosystems.
- Experience with geographic information systems (e.g., ArcGIS or QGIS).
- Programming knowledge, especially in Python.
- Experience in soil chemical and physical analyses.
- Experience in large data analyses.
Funding and Health Insurance: The position is fully funded. Full-time PhD student will be on a junior researcher position with a monthly salary of 1720 EUR (gross). Living costs in Estonia are very reasonable and the allowance can cover your living costs.
All PhD students who receive a doctoral allowance are provided with Estonian national health insurance. Doctoral allowance can be paid out as soon as a temporary residence permit (non-EU students) or temporary right of residence (EU students) has been obtained. Health insurance coverage is available for the full nominal study period of PhD studies (4 years).
To apply:
Candidate should submit the following materials via email to kuno.kasak@ut.ee in a single PDF document containing:
- A one-page cover letter explaining your motivation for applying for this position; how your prior research experience qualifies you for the position.
- A copy of your MSc diploma.
- A CV (including publication’s list if available and clear specification of relevant quantitative skills).
- Names and contact details for two references.
Review of applications will start immediately until the suitable candidate has been found. Applicant must be available to start the position in 1st of September 2023. Receipt of your application will be confirmed by email and applicants selected for an interview will be contacted before 15th of March 2023.
2. Project “Implications of peatland forest management and agriculture to freshwater ecosystems and enhancement of mitigation measures”
Description: Intensive forest management and agricultural activities cause diffuse water pollution.
Nature-based solutions for water protection and pollution mitigation like sedimentation ponds and treatment wetlands are efficient technologies for treatment of polluted water from different sources.
In this project process-based research to determine the impact of agricultural activities and forest management on freshwater ecosystems will be conducted. Furthermore, Enhancement methods of diffuse pollution mitigation measures like treatment wetlands and sedimentation ponds will be developed. The PhD research will be carried out in wetlands and sedimentation ponds receiving diffuse pollution from peatland forests and agricultural fields in Estonia.
This PhD research is part of the projects “The impact of drainage ditch reconstruction works to water quality in well drained peatland forests and efficiency of water protection measures to prevent pollution” and “Optimizing wetland restoration and management strategies for carbon uptake” in the Department of Geography, University of Tartu. Strong international collaboration will be essential part of the project.
Doctoral Position:
The candidate will be based in Tartu, Estonia, and supervised by associate professors Margit Kõiv-Vainik and Kuno Kasak at the University of Tartu. The responsibilities include scientific research, mentoring undergraduate students, and collaboration with the research team to publish research findings in scientific publications. The doctoral researcher will assist with the sampling at research sites, performing statistical analyses on data, and participating in the development of enhancement methods.
Requirements:
A Master’s degree in environmental technology, ecological engineering, chemistry or a strongly related natural science field;
- Experience with environmental sampling;
- The candidate must be able to independently conduct fieldworks, which requires a Driver’s license;
- A strong quantitative (including programming skills in R and/or Matlab) background;
Desired Knowledge and Skills:
- Experience working in wetland/water ecosystems
- Knowledge about environmental (especially water chemistry)
- Experience in statistical data analyses
Funding and Health Insurance:
The position is fully funded. Full-time PhD student will be on a junior researcher position with a monthly salary of 1720 EUR (gross). Living costs in Estonia are very reasonable and the allowance can cover your living costs.
All PhD students who receive a doctoral allowance are provided with Estonian national health insurance. Doctoral allowance can be paid out as soon as a temporary residence permit (non-EU students) or temporary right of residence (EU students) has been obtained. Health insurance coverage is available for the full nominal study period of PhD studies (4 years).
To apply:
Candidate should submit the following materials via email to margit.koiv.vainik@ut.ee in a single PDF document containing:
- A one-page cover letter explaining your motivation for applying for this position; how your prior research experience qualifies you for the position.
- A copy of your MSc diploma.
- A CV (including publication’s list if available and clear specification of relevant quantitative skills).
- Names and contact details for two references.
Review of applications will start immediately until the suitable candidate has been found. Applicant must be available to start the position in 1st of September 2023. Receipt of your application will be confirmed by email and applicants selected for an interview will be contacted before 15th of March 2023.