Doctoral Researcher (m/w/d), salary scale EG 13 TV-H - Group of Soil Science

Part-time position with 65% the working hours of a full-time employee. This is a fixed term-position for initially three years (§2 Abs. 2 WissZeitVG).

FOR2432 is a DFG Research Unit with a wide disciplinary scope, covering diverse dimensions of Social-Ecological Systems. Its research programme addresses transition processes in agriculture, ecology, economy, and society that are linked to rapid urbanization, using Bangalore, an emerging megacity in South India, as an example. Research will be carried out in close collaboration with our Indian partners. In the context of this project, a doctoral position is available addressing “Effects of soil and crop management on the water cycle at field and catchment scale”. The position cannot be shared. Main place of service is Witzenhausen, but extended field work in India for several months per year will be required. Fitness for service in the tropics is therefore mandatory.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Supervision and maintenance of a soil monitoring system (soil moisture and temperature) at a factorial field experiment at the station of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UASB), Bangalore. Managing a database and processing the monitoring data for its application in a field scale soil water transport model.
• Parameterisation, calibration and validation of a soil water transport model (HYDRUS-1D) and scenario simulation of the water dynamics reflecting different management situations.
• Collection and assessment of soil physical and hydraulic properties at the field experiments of the UASB and at demonstration farms along the rural-urban transect
• Participating in project-related seminars and workshops, and in international conferences by presenting own results and publishing in international peer-reviewed journals.

Requirements:

• Completed course of academic study (Master degree) within the field of agricultural sciences, soil science, geoecology, physics or related fields
• Experience in analytical methods in the field of soil science / soil physics.
• Knowledge of transport processes in soil and agroecosystems.
• Knowledge in statistical data analysis including the application of corresponding software tools (e.g. R)
• Experience in modelling transport processes in soils is of advantage.
• Fluent knowledge of English language (proven by internet-based TOEFL of at least 80 points or equivalent language certificate).
• Ability and willingness to work in a dedicated team with an international and intercultural background in India and Germany.

For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Stephan Peth, Tel.: 0561-804-1594, E-Mail: peth[at]uni-kassel[dot]de. Further information on the soil science group can be found at http://www.uni-kassel.de/go/boku and on the research unit at: http://www.uni-kassel.de/go/for-2432

The protection of your personal data is very important to us, so we will handle your personal data with care. By your application, you allow us to store and use your data in the sense of the Hessian Data Protection Act. You can object to this at any time. Your personal data will be deleted.

The University of Kassel is an equal opportunity employer and aims at a clear increase of the proportion of women in research and teaching. Qualified women are therefore expressly requested to apply. Under the precondition of equal qualification, disabled persons will be preferred. Applications indicating the Position Number, which may be in digital form, should be sent to the President of the University of Kassel, 34109 Kassel, Germany or bewerbungen[at]uni-kassel[dot]de, quoting the applicable reference number.