The world’s largest complex of tropical peatlands was recently mapped in central Africa, spanning 145,500 km² and storing 30 billion tonnes of carbon (Dargie et al. 2017, Nature). Would you like to be part of a large international research project on the future of these peatlands? Do you have a strong background in ecosystem modelling and peatland ecohydrology? Are you excited by the prospect of joining a multidisciplinary research team investigating one of the world's most important ecosystems? 

This is an important new role on the CongoPeat project, a 5 year Natural Environment Research Council project that will involve simulating the past, present and future of the peatlands of the central Congo Basin. You will be responsible for (i) updating the DigiBog peatland development model using contemporary process data collected from the Congo peatlands, (ii) comparing the model's simulations of the past development of the Congo peatlands with reconstructions from the palaeorecord, and (iii) simulating future conditions in the peatlands under land-use change and climate change. You will also be responsible for linking key model outputs to a peatland version of the JULES land surface scheme which is being used for larger-scale modelling of the Congo peatlands.

Within the five year CongoPeat project, which began in 2018, the first two years are primarily focussed on data collection in the Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo, with the modelling component in the middle of the project. The final part of the project will use the modelling results and other outputs of the science programme to work with policy makers to provide accessible and clear information on what action is required on how to protect these globally-significant peatlands.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Professor Andy Baird, CongoPeat Work Package Leader for Digibog Modelling

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 6834, email: a.j.baird@leeds.ac.uk

Location:     Leeds - Main Campus
Faculty/Service:     Faculty of Environment
School/Institute:     School of Geography
Category:     Research
Grade:     Grade 7
Salary:     £33,797 to £40,322 p.a.
Post Type:     Full Time/Part Time
Contract Type:     Fixed Term (Fixed-term for 24 months (full time) or 30 months (part time) at 80%)
Release Date:     Monday 11 November 2019
Closing Date:     Tuesday 10 December 2019
Interview Date:     See advert
Downloads:     Candidate Brief