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Research Fellow in African Tropical Forest Dynamics University of Leeds

University of Leeds -Environment

Job Summary

Fixed Term 36 months, from 1 December 2012

You will work on a European Research Council funded project: "T-FORCES: Tropical Forests in the Changing Earth System" to re-measure plots and assess their carbon balance, changes in dynamics and their likely drivers. You will be based at Leeds where you will spend approximately 50% of your time leading fieldwork in Africa. The T-FORCES research will be undertaken with a consortium of ecologists from across Africa, and with other post-doctoral positions across the tropics, led by the University of Leeds.

You will have responsibility for developing the African Tropical Rainforest Observation Network (AfriTRON), of forest plots that are currently located across 10 African countries. Working with our partners you will lead recensuses of permanent sample plots in both West Africa (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria) and central Africa (Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo) and conduct analyses of spatial and temporal patterns of forest dynamics in African forests. You will work with a team of researchers from Leeds, University College London, Oxford, James Cook University in Queensland, and colleagues in African countries.

The primary project goal is to determine and communicate the current and recent past carbon balance of African tropical forests, together with the associated dominant ecological fluxes and their sensitivity to soil and climate variability. A subsidiary goal is to broaden the networks forest inventory plots in African to help establish a pan-tropical observatory to monitor the dynamics and biomass of the world's tropical forests.

You will have a PhD in Ecology or a related discipline, together with experience in Tropical Forest Ecology. You will have a publication track record, excellent communication skills and have a record of successfully working with a research team. French language skills are highly desirable.

University Grade 7 (£30,122 - £35,938 p.a) Please note that it is likely that the appointment will be made at no higher than £31,948 p.a. since there are funding limitations which dictate the starting level at which the appointment can be made.

Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Simon Lewis, tel +44 (0)113 343 3337, email s.l.lewis@leeds.ac.uk or Professor Oliver Phillips, tel +44 (0)113 343 6832, email o.phillips@leeds.ac.uk

Closing Date: 21 September 2012