Post-Doctoral Scientist: Soil Carbon: Three year fixed term<br />
Lincoln - Vacancy 9545 
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The Soil, Water &#38; Environment Group works with land-based industries to develop the knowledge and tools needed to promote economically and environmentally sustainable management and use of soil and water resources in agricultural and horticultural production systems.
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Developing long-term sustainable strategies for increasing soil carbon depend on understanding the key factors that affect soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilisation. We seek to understand the principal mechanisms that affect soil carbon stabilisation and to develop methods to determine the stabilisation capacity and vulnerability of soil carbon loss. These methods will be applied to identify those soils that have the greatest potential to stabilise additional SOC and land use practices that enhance SOC stabilisation.
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In this three year post-doctoral appointment you will play a lead role in delivering research to: <br />
&#8226; Identify the physical and chemical properties that affect soil carbon stabilisation in a wide range of New Zealand soils<br />
&#8226; Develop improved methods to predict the carbon stabilisation capacity of New Zealand soils<br />
&#8226; Synthesise findings from available studies to identify land use practices that affect soil carbon stabilisation and the potential for soil carbon sequestration.
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The research will be funded by the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) and will involve close collaborations with scientists from AgResearch Ltd, Massey University and CSIRO Land and Water.
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You will have a PhD in Soil or Environmental Science and will combine a track record of conducting innovative research on soil elemental cycles, including soil carbon, with well developed communication and interpersonal skills. 
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For more information, registration details and to apply for this position please visit www.careers.plantandfood.co.nz 
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Applications open 5 January 2014<br />
Applications close 23 January 2014<br />
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