Postdoc position - Carbon Removal in Wetland Restoration

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EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 17,000 people, including over 12,500 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

Postdoc position - Carbon Removal in Wetland Restoration

The Catchment Hydrology and Geomorphology Lab ( CHANGE ) and the Soil Biogeochemistry Lab ( SOIL ) at EPFL in Sion are looking for a postdoctoral researcher in the area of wetland ecohydrology and biogeochemistry.

Wetlands play a key role in the global carbon cycle by storing 30% of the world’s soil carbon on only 3% of the total land surface area. However, many wetlands are currently degraded, often by draining to be converted to agricultural land. These degraded wetlands have not only lost their ecosystem functions, but are also significant sources of carbon dioxide and methane to the atmosphere. The restoration of degraded wetlands and their capacity to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide by peat formation is key in the context of climate change. As a postdoc working jointly at SOIL and CHANGE, you’ll contribute to modeling and monitoring carbon sequestration capacity in Swiss wetland ecosystems.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Perform original research in the area of wetland ecohydrology and biogeochemistry.
• Develop, validate, and apply an integrated model of soil, hydrology, and vegetation dynamics in wetland ecosystems.
• Implement and maintain a monitoring system for key wetland parameters.
• Perform point sampling and physicochemical analysis of wetland soils.
• Quantify climate-relevant carbon fluxes at selected wetland sites in Switzerland.
• Lead and contribute to publications for high-impact journals.
• Contribute to broad Lab activities (including co-supervision of MSc students).

Profile

• You have (or are close to completing) a PhD in Environmental Sciences or Engineering.
• You have research experience in wetland ecohydrology/biogeochemistry.
• You have strong computational and analytical skills, and familiarity with ecohydrological models.
• You have some experience in in-situ ecosystem monitoring.
• Experimental skills and experience in analyzing common soil physicochemical parameters are an asset.
• You have a strong publication record (relative to your career stage) in internationally leading journals.
• You are independent, creative, and solution-oriented.
• You have excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

We offer

• A stimulating and international working environment in the new EPFL-Valais campus in Sion.
• Competitive salary and excellent working conditions.
• Opportunity to perform state-of-the-art research in one of the most dynamic scientific institutions in Europe.

Required materials

Only applications submitted through the online platform are considered. You are asked to supply your CV, a brief research statement (max 2 pages), and contact details of 3 references.

Applications will be reviewed starting June 1st, 2024.

Informations

Contract Start Date : 09/01/2024 

Activity Rate Min : 80,00 

Activity Rate Max : 100,00 

Contract Type: CDD

Duration: Up to 2 years (renewable on a one-year basis)