Post Doc Fellow for Hydrology, carbon dynamics and nutrient cycles in forest and forest transitions (Kenya)

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) advances human well-being, environmental conservation and equity by conducting research to help shape policies and practices that affect forests in developing countries. CIFOR is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. Our headquarters are in Bogor, Indonesia, with offices in Asia, Africa and South America.

CIFOR is looking for a Post Doc Fellow for Hydrology, carbon dynamics and nutrient cycles in forest and forest transitions
Overview

Land use and land cover changes are major contributors to global and regional climate change. In the last few decades, large areas of mountain and dryland forest in East Africa have been converted to agriculture with largely unknown consequences for regional water and nutrient cycles. CIFOR will investigate the effects of land use change in the last 5-6 decades on water, carbon and nutrient balances, and the impact on agricultural productivity at large. This will be achieved by conducting comparative catchment studies and measurements of carbon stocks, water and nutrient fluxes in forest, forest transitions and adjacent agricultural areas. The experimental information will be integrated using modeling to estimate changes in the provision of ecosystem services (i.e. carbon sequestration and water supply) due to land use change. This work will include the use of hydrological and biogeochemical models.

The Post Doc Fellow will be responsible to the Regional Coordinator and under the supervision of a Senior Scientist.

Specific duties and responsibilities
- Supervise and coordinate field teams including MSc and PhD students.
- Devise budgets for implementing field activities and research in the laboratory.
- Publish in peer-reviewed journals.

Requirements
***Education, experience and technical skills
-PhD in Soil Sciences, Forestry, Environmental Sciences or related fields.
- Theoretical and empirical knowledge of field measurements of landscape fluxes of water and nutrients using state-of-the-art experimental and modeling approaches.
- Demonstrated experience in field monitoring techniques and laboratory experimentation to evaluate the dynamics of nitrogen and carbon in terrestrial-ecosystems.
- Knowledge of chemical analysis of soil, water and plant samples.
- Ability to effectively manage, visualize and analyze large datasets.
- Evidence of good communication skills, including the ability to publish the results of scientific research in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Demonstrated originality, creativity and innovation in solving problems and introducing new directions and approaches.
- Knowledge of programming and spatial analysis tools would be considered an advantage.
- Knowledge of Kiswahili and/or French would also be considered an advantage.

***Personal attributes and competencies
- Excellent analytical skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experienced in working with multicultural and multidisciplinary research teams.
- Have initiative and capable of working independently as well as in a team environment to meet project deadlines.
- Competency in personal organization, priority setting and managing multiple tasks.
- Values the sharing of information and continuous improvement in a cooperative atmosphere of constructive evaluation and learning.

Terms and conditions
- Competitive remuneration in US dollars commensurate with skills and experience.
- The appointment will be for a period of 2 (two) years with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
- The duty station will be at CIFOR’s regional office in Nairobi, Kenya (with travel to research sites within East Africa).

Application process
- The application deadline is 20 October 2013.

Please send your letter of interest and CV, including contact information for three referees, to:

Human Resources Department, CIFOR
cifor-hr-jobs@cgiar.org

Please indicate the position and its reference number in the email subject line. CIFOR is an equal opportunity employer. Staff diversity contributes to excellence.