Postdoctoral Research Associate in Global Environment Modelling of Soil Organic and Inorganic Carbon

The School of Civil Engineering at The University of Sydney is recruiting for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Global Environment Modelling of Soil Organic and Inorganic Carbon. You will join Professor Federico Maggi's research team and focus on modelling the coupled carbon and nitrogen cycling, with an emphasis on the interaction between organic and inorganic carbon components.

This project is part of the Discovery Project 'Soil carbonates: the missing link in the soil carbon budget,' funded by the Australian Research Council. It aims to improve a process-based computer model to represent soil ecohydrological and biogeochemical interactions across various carbon and nitrogen soil pools, particularly carbonates, to understand their role in climate change. The model will be used for global assessments and to predict soil organic and inorganic matter dynamics.

As the Postdoctoral Research Associate, you will collaborate with partners including Budiman Minasny, Alex McBratney, and Damien Field. Your key responsibilities include:

• Designing and improving the soil biogeochemical reaction network, including parameter calibration, validation, and sensitivity analysis.
• Presenting project updates and formal presentations of research activities and outputs.
• Preparing peer-reviewed papers as a lead or co-author.
• Providing mentoring to relevant staff and students.
• Occasionally participating in teaching and learning activities such as seminars and tutoring.

About you: You should have a PhD (or near completion) in environmental science, computer science, engineering, or a related discipline, with an emphasis in numerical computation. Required skills include intermediate to advanced abilities in large data analysis and manipulation, programming in languages like Matlab, Python, or C++, and a developing research profile in carbon/nutrient cycling. Preferred skills include familiarity with supercomputers and experience in process-based models. Excellent communication and time management skills are essential. The ideal commencement date is early 2026, subject to relocation and visa arrangements.

The School of Civil Engineering at The University of Sydney