OCE Postdoctoral Fellow - A rational scheme for assessing greenhouse gas emissions from irrigated agriculture, CSIRO/Australia

OCE Postdoctoral Fellow - A rational scheme for assessing greenhouse gas emissions from irrigated agriculture

CSIRO Land and Water is seeking to appoint a highly motivated postgraduate with extensive experience in the area of greenhouse gas emission measurement linked to ecohydrology of agroecosystems. The OCE Postdoctoral FellowshipScheme provides an opportunity to undertake postdoctoral research projects aligned with the best research teams across CSIRO. This particular project also provides opportunity to work with a multi-disciplinary team of scientists of the highest calibre in the area of agricultural greenhouse gas research from other organisations in Australia, Germany and New Zealand.

Under the direction of a research scientist you will work in the field of soil biogeochemistry specifically linked to plant-soilwater interactions in irrigated farming systems. You will use new automated greenhouse gas monitoring technology coupled to weighing lysimetry located at our Griffith Laboratory to derive quantitative relationships between edaphic and environmental characteristics and N2O and CH4 emissions. The derived relationships will underpin national carbon accounting simulation (NCAS) models and specific recommendations for GHG mitigation from agricultural soils in rice and other irrigated cropping systems.

Specifically you will:

• Define and complete the analytical measurements required to obtain complete water and nitrogen balances as well as N2O and CH4 emissions.
• Define and ensure appropriate application of agronomic treatments to be examined including crop selection,
• irrigation and fertiliser regimes so that specific scenarios can be systematically tested.
• Optimise the calibration of biosphere–atmosphere models for predicting GHG emissions from soil beyond that which is currently possible.
• Write scientific papers and prepare conference/workshop presentations describing the results and their implications both from productivity, GHG and irrigation management aspects.
• Collaborate with, and be mentored by leading national international researchers including: Prof. Peter Grace, Queensland University Technology (QUT) by extending the national programme of N2O mitigation from cropped soils (NORP). Dr Tim Clough, Lincoln University, New Zealand who will lead the research on isotope techniques associated with sub-surface N2O measurements. Participate in a European lysimeter network programme located over an Alpine altitudinal gradient to study how climate change can affect C and N storage in soil Professor Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany.

Location: Griffith , New South Wales, Australia

Salary: AUD73K - AUD80K plus up to 15.4% Superannuation (Pension Fund)

Ref No: 2011/172

Tenure: 3 years/Full-time

To be successful you will have:

• A PhD degree (or will shortly satisfy the requirements for a PhD degree) in soil biogeochemistry, greenhouse gas
• emissions from soil, ecohydrology, plant-water-soil interactions or related discipline.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of field and lab based experimentation in terrestrial environments.
• Demonstrated familiarity with long term soil-plant-water field monitoring techniques.
• Demonstrated originality, creativity and innovation in solving problems and introducing new directions and approaches.
• Evidence of strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to publish the results of research in scientific journals.

About CSIRO:

Australia is founding its future on science and innovation. Its national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), is a powerhouse of ideas, technologies and skills for building prosperity, growth, health and sustainability. It serves governments, industries, business and communities.

CSIRO Land and Water (CLW) is researching ways to better manage Australia's land and water resources, and improve the quality of our natural and built environments. Together with our many clients and research partners, CSIRO Land and Water strives to address some of our nation’s most pressing environmental challenges. We deliver benefits to the economy, society and the environment.

CSIRO prefers all applications to be lodged via our Online Careers Portal – http://www.csiro.au/careers. Choose “Positions Vacant” and insert Reference Number 2011/172 where indicated.

Applications close Tuesday 31st May, 2011.