CGCZS - Faculty Position in Geochemistry

Global Critical Zone Science Chair (Institute For Advanced Studies)

Professor in Geochemistry

Area of specialization:

Critical Zone is the “heterogeneous, near-surface environment in which complex interactions involving rock, soil, water, air, and living organisms regulate the natural habitat and determine availability of life-sustaining resources”. Its limits range from the top of the canopy down to the bottom of the aquifer. The successful applicant to this position will join the Global Critical Zone Science Chair to develop and conduct a research program to strengthen the understanding of the geological processes that created the different soils and how they govern water, air, and C, N, P, and other elements biogeochemical cycling within the critical zone. The successful candidate must understand the roles of water and atmospheric physics and chemistry in forming soils and how the use of the topsoil for agriculture interacts with geological processes. This person should have a good understanding of methods and techniques (e.g. isotopic and spectroscopic techniques) that would allow him/her to track and determine the fate and speciation of elements from the parent material and underground water to the soils, plants, animals, and atmosphere. The successful candidate must provide scientific support to the other members of the Chair in terms of mineralogy, geochemical cycling, biogeochemistry, Earth surface processes, thermodynamics, phase diagrams, and weathering. He/she must have a good understanding of paleoclimatology to model and predict future scenarios for agriculture in face of climate change and to what extent building sustainable agricultural systems can support fighting climate change.

Job description:

The Global Critical Zone Science Chair at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) invites applications for a full-time professor position in Geochemistry (open rank). The successful applicant will conduct research in Geochemistry aiming to understand and model the interactions between rocks and geological processes in the designing and development of sustainable agricultural systems. The successful applicant will provide a great understanding of the influence of geological processes and rocks on soil formation and the control it exerts on the functioning of the critical zone. This understanding must help build adequate farming systems and practices for each edaphoclimatic condition.

This knowledge will support our efforts toward understanding and managing the critical zone to build sustainable societies. The successful applicant should have good experience in geochemistry and modeling of environmental processes, which will be very useful in aggregating all the knowledge being generated. Figure 1 depicts a framework of the critical zone functioning and guiding questions to understand it. The successful applicant should develop his/her program with this in mind.

Other duties include advising students and postdocs, teaching graduate courses at UM6P, supporting the overall activities of the Chair and have a close relationship/follow up with the Chair’s scientific committee. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with the different groups and departments of the university, including the Geology Department, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, International Water Research Institute, African Genome Center, Chemical and Biological Sciences, and Material Science, among others.

Evidence of research and teaching excellence is expected. Strong English communication skills, both verbal and written, are required.

Figure 1 – Critical Zone visual concept on the left, with the flows of energy and matter entering it and interacting with the environment forming soil organic matter, producing food, weathering the rocks, forming the soils, and so on, influencing the functioning of the critical zone. On the right side we have some guiding questions to help understanding the mechanisms controlling the functioning of the critical zone. Together they represent a framework that the successful applicant should take into consideration when designing his/her program. 

Key duties:

Successful candidates are expected to:

• Initiate, develop, and lead joint research projects and programs in geochemistry in collaboration with a multidisciplinary consortium in the field.
• Generate external research funds to support and maintain integrated research programs.
• Establish collaboration and partnerships with great international scientific institutes.
• Supervise graduate students, develop teaching materials, and attract high level students. 
• Publish in well-ranked and high-impact-factor journals.
• Teach and develop research regarding the principles of geochemistry; biogeochemical cycling of elements; fundamental biological and chemical processes controlling organic carbon sequestration in the soil; use of state-of-the-art spectroscopic and isotopic techniques; and modeling.
• Translate the basic scientific knowledge generate from the above-mentioned disciplines into sound management practices on how to better manage our soils and agricultural systems.
• Stay up to date with all current environmental science research.
• Organize datasets and modeling efforts and support the development of long-term trials.
• Willing to travel for some time to develop fieldwork in the African continent and to visit other international institutions and partners.
• Support the fulfillment of the goals and mission of the Global Critical Zone Science Chair.

Criteria of the candidate:   

• PhD in environmental science, soil science, surface geochemistry, or related fields from a recognized university.
• At least 2 years of postdoctoral research experience in environmental sciences within the above-mentioned subjects, preferably with international experience.
• High publication record in international well-ranked journals (at least 10 publications in the last 3 years).
• Significant research record and leadership in molecular environmental science studies, including the use of state-of-the-art spectroscopic and isotopic techniques and modeling capabilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Skilled in both field and lab work.
• Good record of funding.
• Proactive, ethic, and respectful person.
• Organizational dexterity, ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Maintains positive attitude in fast-paced changing environments.

About UM6P:

Located at the heart of the future Green City of Benguerir, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), a higher education institution with an international standard, is established to serve Morocco and the African continent. Its vision is honed around research and innovation at the service of education and development. This unique nascent university, with its state-of-the-art campus and infrastructure, has woven a sound academic and research network, and its recruitment process is seeking high quality academics and professionals in order to boost its quality-oriented research environment.

OCP group (http://www.ocpgroup.ma/en/home), a world leader in fertilizer production plays a great role as the founder and main supporter for the University. In parallel, a new portfolio of client is growing in an open spirit, in parallel with the development of an R&D cluster around the university.

UM6P is a very ambitious university, enjoying ample research funding, moderate teaching load, and excellent facilities.

In its research approach, the UM6P promotes transdisciplinary, entrepreneurship spirit and collaboration with external institutions, both international ones for developing up to date science and at continent level to address real African challenges.

All our programs run as start-ups and can be self-organized when they reach a critical mass. Thus, academic liberty is promoted as far as funding is developed by research teams.

The research programs are integrated from long-term research to short-term applications in linkage with incubation and start-up ecosystems.

UM6P offers highly competitive salaries at the international level. Our researchers get incentives through a participation to the intellectual property they develop.

About the Critical Zone Science Chair:

The Global Critical Zone Science Chair at the Mohamed VI Polytechnic University is sponsored by OCP and was created with the mandate of developing the science that will support the sustainable use of our soils to build healthier ecosystems, particularly in the African continent. Soils are the connector of our major societal challenges, namely: food security, water security, energy security, loss of biodiversity and climate change. Despite of its great potential the African continent is still a net importer of food and will see its population doubling in the next decades. Besides all the efforts, environmental degradation is still on the rise in Africa. For the occasion of the AU-EU Summit that happened in February 2022 a policy paper that should guide the R&I partnership between the two continents for the green transition in Africa was released, bringing soil security and the development of a sustainable agriculture to the core of it. Following this momentum, the Global Critical Zone Science Chair aims to support the green transition in Africa by bringing the science that will improve our understanding of the mechanisms controlling the formation of our soils and its interactions with other environmental cycles.

The Chair is part of the Institute of Advanced Studies within the university and it is a multidisciplinary project by nature. It will promote the understanding of soils as a complex system by bringing cutting-edge multidisciplinary research to understand the links and feedbacks between soils and food systems, global warming, greenhouse gases, water cycle, and biodiversity, without forgetting the economic and social aspects. It will promote research and development in the fields of soil health, C sequestration, food security, soil biodiversity, soil fertility and fertilizers, nutrient use efficiency, and biogeochemical cycling of elements in the soil-plant-human system, aiming to generate knowledge that will allow us to build healthier, more sustainable, and productive agricultural systems, improving the way humans interact with the environment.

Lastly, the Chair will also rely on the support of a great scientific committee comprised by well-known and forward-thinking scientists from various fields, which will help guiding the development of the Chair and its work.

Applications and selection procedure :

• Applications must be sent to: recrutement@um6p.ma , before ..... in a single electronic zipped  folder with the mention of the job title in the mail’s subject. The folder must contain:
  • A cover letter indicating the position applied for, the main research interests, and how the candidate fits the position. 
  • A detailed CV.
  • A brief research statement.
  • Contact information of 3 references (applicants are assumed to have obtained their references’ consent to be contacted for this matter).
• The short-listed candidates will be invited to meet the university selection committee.

About compensation package:

• Best in class salaries
• Up to 30% annual bonus on gross salary.
• Research budget allowance to professor
• Best in class :
  • IP sharing policy (33% for professor)
  • MOOCs policy (60% for professor)
  • Consulting policy (100% for professor when teaching time is completed)
• Complete benefits including housing, tuition fees, life & medical insurance, retirement, maternity leave and sabbatical.
• Job opportunity for husband or spouse.