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PhD position in Biospheric Theory and Modelling
Formal announcement
The Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany, invites applications for a PhD position in the Biospheric Theory and Modelling Group.
We look for a creative and energetic person to participate in our efforts to develop an Earth system model of biogeochemical cycles and apply it to topics related to the role of the biosphere in the Earth system, its evolution, and global change. Examples of topics that we are interested in are: vegetation-aerosol-cloud interactions; land-ocean biosphere coupling; the role of the biota in Earthīs entropy budget; application of the principle of Maximum Entropy Production; application of optimality to various aspects of biospheric functioning. For more information on our research approach and examples, please check out our web page at http://www.bgc-jena.mpg.de/bgc-theory.
Applicants should have a masters degree or comparable in a relevant discipline. Experience in numerical modelling in a UNIX environment is advantageous as well as fluent proficiency of the English language.
The position is available as soon as April 15, 2007. The envisaged duration of the contract is two years with possibility of extension. At the end of this time, the candidate is expected to defend a PhD thesis.
For best consideration, please submit your application, including a statement of why you want to join our group, a curriculum vitae and the contact details of two academic referees before April 15, 2007 in electronic form to Axel Kleidon (akleidon@bgc-jena.mpg.de).
The Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more handicapped individuals and especially encourages them to apply.
Further information about our research group can be found on the groupīs web page at http://www.bgc-jena.mpg.de/bgc-theory.
| PDF flyer of the position announcement |  |
Some background information
Our research in looking for general principles of the Earth's biosphere and how it evolved over time is quite strongly inspired by the Gaia hypothesis, formulated by James Lovelock in the 1970s. This hypothesis can be formulated in terms of a thermodynamic hypothesis called Maximum Entropy Production that can in principle be tested with a numerical simulation model of the Earth system.
- This view is explained in more detail in the paper below, and has been quite influential in the research conducted since then. You may want to look at it and also our publication page in order to see what we are doing and what you can expect your research to look like. One of the most important things about pursuing a PhD is that you really like what you do.
| A Kleidon, 2004. Beyond Gaia: Thermodynamics of life and Earth system functioning. Climatic Change, 66, 271-319. | |
- A recent overview article on MEP was published in Nature ( link, subscription required).
- Here are three examples of recently published papers:
| A Kleidon, K Fraedrich, C Low, 2007. Multiple steady-states in the terrestrial atmosphere-biosphere system: a result of a discrete vegetation classification? Biogeosciences Discussion, 4, 687-705. www |  |
| A Kleidon, 2006. The climate sensitivity to human appropriation of vegetation productivity and its thermodynamic characterization. Global and Planetary Change, 54, 109-127. doi: 10.1016//j.gloplacha.2006.01.016 | |
| A Kleidon, 2006. Quantifying the biologically possible range of steady-state soil and surface climates with climate model simulations. Biologia, Bratislava, 61/Suppl. 19: S234-S239 | |
- Or check out these recent conference posters:
| Does the empirical Ball-Berry law of stomatal conductance emerge from maximization of productivity?. presented at the American Geophysical Union fall meeting, 2006 | |
| Did stomatal conductance adapt optimally to past climatic change ?. presented at the European Geosciences Union meeting, 2006 | |