[Aqualist] Postdoctoral fellowship - University of Edinburgh

[Tim Barrows]

NERC-funded two-year postdoctoral research post based at University 
of Edinburgh
(start date: 1st April 2006)

'The reconstruction of changes in fire regime in Europe, Asia, and 
Africa over the last 21,000 years'
(Part of a collaborative project funded by the NERC-QUEST programme)

Changes in fire regime have likely played an important role in 
biogeochemical cycling and climatic change since the Last Glacial 
Maximum (LGM), by influencing atmospheric carbon dioxide and aerosol 
concentrations, as well as land-surface albedo through changes in 
vegetation type.  The aim of this postdoctoral position is to 
synthesise previously-published palaeo-charcoal records (as a proxy 
for fire history) from sites across Europe, Asia, and Africa in order 
to complement existing and on-going syntheses from the Americas and 
Australasia, and thereby achieve a global dataset of biomass burning 
since the LGM.  This dataset will be used to evaluate how well global 
earth system models predict biomass burning.  The synthesis involves 
(a) design of a suitable database for data archiving, (b) collection 
of individual radiocarbon-dated records, based on the literature, 
existing regional compilations and personal contacts, (c) mapping and 
analysis of these records, and (d) integration with syntheses from 
other parts of the world.  The successful applicant will gain 
experience in data synthesis and in comparisons of 
palaeoenvironmental data with model predictions.  The successful 
candidate will be a highly-motivated individual with a PhD in 
Biological, Earth, Geographical or Quaternary Sciences.  Experience 
in statistics, GIS and database programming (ACCESS), Quaternary 
palaeoecology, and ecology of flammable ecosystems is highly 
desirable.  S/he will have good written/spoken communication skills, 
enjoy working as part of an international team, have good 
organizational skills and be flexible and goal-oriented.  The 
successful candidate will be based at the University of Edinburgh, 
but will be expected to spend extended periods working at Bristol 
University to gain appropriate experience and training in palaeodata 
synthesis and database techniques via collaboration with other 
scientists involved in the wider project.

This is part of a large collaborative project, involving several UK 
universities, led by Professor Paul Valdes and Dr. Sandy Harrison at 
Bristol University, entitled 'Climate and Biogeochemical Cycles 
during the Last Deglaciation'.  This is funded under NERC QUEST Theme 
2 ('The natural regulation of atmospheric composition on 
glacial-interglacial and longer timescales')
(see http://quest.bris.ac.uk/programme/themes/theme2.html.)

Applicants should submit a covering letter, quoting the title of the 
postdoctoral project (Reconstruction of fire regimes), together with 
a full CV, and the names and addresses of three referees to the QUEST 
Secretary, julie.shackleford at bristol.ac.uk (and copied to 
Francis.Mayle at ed.ac.uk) on or before Friday 24 February 
2006.  Queries and requests for further information about this 
position should be made to Dr. Francis Mayle, Francis.Mayle at ed.ac.uk, 
at the School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh.