PhD position in soil physics under an international and interdisciplinary project: Soil-it-is

October 10, 2007

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Job description
The PhD position is funded by The Research Council for Technology and Production Sciences in relation to the large international research project Soil-it-is (http://www.agrsci.dk/soil-it-is/) and the aim is to study soil architecture.

Title: Understanding and quantifying the spatial and temporal dynamics in structural stabilization and the characteristics of soil pore space.
A main background for the study is the growing concern that architecture of soils is challenged by modern management in agriculture. Another is the recognition that structural stability and characteristics of the pore system have crucial impacts on important processes in soil inner space. Healthy soils react as self-organizing systems, optimizing a range of important soil functions. It is hypothesized that this organization breaks down below a lower threshold of organic matter concentration and/or quality of the organic fraction. The study will focus on this dynamic organization and its impact on processes at the surfaces and volumes of soil inner space. Investigations will include a range of tests with quantitative assessment of system behaviour following interference by e.g. mechanical impact. The mechanical behaviour of soils as well as the morphology – and hence functions – of the soil pore system is believed highly affected by the (lack of) interaction between organic matter and dispersed clay particles. The study will focus on soils in their natural three-dimensional appearance by applying a range of tests including gas- and water transport methodologies for describing the pore system. Links to colloid mobilization and transport, soil-water repellence and gaseous phase transport need to be understood and quantified.

The PhD study will be a three-year position based at the University of Aarhus, Denmark. Senior scientist Per Schjoenning ( University of Aarhus ) will be the main supervisor for the PhD student. Co-supervisors will be Professor Iain Young , Professor Per Moldrup, and senior scientist Lis Wollesen de Jonge. The PhD study will be in close collaboration with Aalborg University (Faculty of Engineering, Science and Medicine) and with international research partners in Scotland . Specifically, a period of the PhD study is tentatively planned to take place in collaboration with Professor Iain Young at the SIMBIOS Centre at the University of Abertay , Dundee , Scotland .

For more information on the PhD study, application procedure and the overall Soil-it-is project, please visit:

http://www.agrsci.dk/soil-it-is/

Qualification requirements

A Masters degree in a relevant branch of natural sciences.
Good English skills.

Terms of employment
The position will be filled in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Federation of Professional Associations as well as the appointment structure of 2007 for scientific personnel at universities.

You can obtain further information about the scientific content of the PhD study from senior scientist Per Schjoenning at Per.Schjonning@agrsci.dk or senior scientist Lis Wollesen de Jonge at Lis.W.de.jonge@agrsci.dk

Application
Your application should include a full CV (including information about language and computer skills), publications, documentation for academic degrees and other material, which you wish to include in the evaluation.

Please send a written application in 4 copies and marked “JPM/JFK-PhD” to:

University of Aarhus
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Faculty Secretariat
P.O. Box 50
DK-8830 Tjele
Denmark

Closing date for applications is 1 November 2007 at 12.00.

The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences encourages all, irrespective of personal background, to apply.

The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences is a faculty at Aarhus University. The faculty employs approx. 900 staff members. The activities at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences are primarily carried out at Foulum (near Viborg), Bygholm (near Horsens), Aarslev (near Odense), Flakkebjerg (near Slagelse) and Sorgenfri (near Kgs. Lyngby). For further information: www.agrsci.org

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