"Postdoctoral Fellowship in Boron and Potassium Biogeochemistry"

The Global Critical Zone Science Chair at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship focused on boron and potassium biogeochemistry in the critical zone of instrumented sites in Brazil. The successful applicant will join the Global Critical Zone Science Chair to develop and conduct a research program on forest nutrition and nutritional stress in Eucalyptus forest stands in Brazil.

Research Context: Forests play a crucial role in environmental regulation, including carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling. This project aims to improve understanding of nutritional dynamics in forest ecosystems, focusing on boron and potassium, using isotopes and other methods.

Eucalyptus Plantations in Brazil: The research will be conducted at the EucFlux site in Brazil, involving field experiments, isotopic measurements, and modeling. It includes analyzing various critical zone compartments such as soil, water, and vegetation under different fertilization regimes.

Job Duties: The postdoc will collect and analyze flux data, perform boron isotopic and nutrient analyses, monitor data, establish nutrient budgets, and collaborate with international teams. The work involves field and lab activities, with opportunities for modeling and publications.

Qualifications: Candidates must hold a PhD in environmental science, soil science, or related fields from a recognized Moroccan or African university. Required skills include experience in isotopic geochemistry, field and lab work, and excellent English communication. A strong publication record is essential.

Tentative Schedule: Year 1 focuses on data collection, analysis, and monitoring. Year 2 emphasizes establishing budgets, modeling, and preparing papers and reports.

For further details, refer to references such as Chetelat et al. (2021) and Seymour et al. (2022).