Last Date: 22.02.2024.
Description
The response of urban trees to climatic stressors and management Developing strategies for resilient urban forests
As part of the project cluster URBORETUM (Preventing tree mortality in cities and linking ecosystem services to biophysical and ecological processes: an inter- and transdisciplinary study to co-create sustainable and resilient urban forests of the future), the Chair of Silviculture at the University of Freiburg invites applications for a 4-yr doctoral position.
The PhD research will focus on the analysis of growth responses of urban trees to climatic stress (heat and drought) and management with a goal to identify suitable tree species together with the participating municipalities and to optimise management strategies.
Starting date March 1st or April 1st, 2024
Project description:
The Upper Rhine region is already one of the most heat-stressed and driest regions in Germany. In the future, even higher temperatures and particularly frequent and long-lasting hot spells are expected here. Heat and drought stress of trees is often accentuated in urban environments. The impacts of this climate change threaten the survival and health of trees in urban and peri-urban forests. In the URBORETUM project, we aim to: 1) uncover the ecological, biophysical, and management processes that are related to urban tree health decline, 2) quantify the influence of different types of urban forests on human health and other ecosystem services, 3) improve current management practice of urban forests by implementing research results to praxis, and 4) develop a modern, technology-based, and cost-effective urban forest inventory system in four cities of southwest Germany that can be scaled up nationally. In the work package TreeCare, which is jointly carried out by the Chair of Silviculture and the Chair of Forest Growth and Dendroecology, we will analyse the previous growth responses of urban trees to climatic stress and management influences. For that purpose, tree cores will be extracted for dendroecological analyses including tree ring width, wood density analyses and the isotopic composition of carbon and oxygen in the wood. The results of a first project phase will be used in an implementation phase to identify suitable tree species together with four participating municipalities in the Upper Rhine valley (Freiburg, Karlsruhe, Mannheim and Heidelberg) to optimise management strategies for tree care.
Candidate profile:
We are looking for a highly motivated and co-operative person with a strong background in forest ecology and tree physiology and a completed Master’s degree.
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated his/her ability to successfully carry out relevant research and data analyses, and to communicate the results. Experience in publishing in scientific journals is desirable. The applicant is expected to carry out sampling, preparation and analyses of tree cores in cooperation with project partners. In addition, he/she will characterise and quantify the immediate tree environment (root growing space) and management influences (e. g. pruning intensities). He/she should be able to independently plan and undertake field sampling and coordinate work with other project partners. Based on this work, the PhD candidate will also support the development of tree selection and urban tree management guidelines. A strong statistical background and experience with R are desirable. Knowledge of German and a strong command of English are desirable. The applicant needs to hold valid German/EU drivers license. He/she needs to communicate with project partners and stakeholders and should actively participate in networking and outreach activities under the project and funding line. He/she would be co-supervised by Prof. Jürgen Bauhus and Dr. Georgios Skiadaresis.
Salary is the German standard for doctoral students (TV-L E13, 75% of a full scientist salary) and a starting date in March or April 2023 is anticipated. For international candidates, the University of Freiburg offers support with the logistics of relocating to Germany (http://www.welcomecenter.uni-freiburg.de).
Founded in 1457, the University of Freiburg is one of the oldest German universities and now one of the nation’s leading research and teaching institutions. Freiburg is a vibrant city at the foot of the Black Forest in close vicinity to France and Switzerland, with a rich cultural and academic life and excellent recreational opportunities.
Your application will consist of a letter of motivation, a CV, academic transcripts (non-official copies are acceptable), and contact details of at least two academic references.
We are particularly pleased to receive applications from women for the position advertised here.
Application
Please send your application in English including supporting documents mentioned above citing the reference number 00003556, by 22.02.2024 at the latest. Please send your application to the following address in written or electronic form:
University of Freiburg
Professur für Waldbau /
Chair of Silviculture
Tennenbacher Str. 4
79106 Freiburg
E-Mail (please as a single PDF): [email protected]
For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bauhus on the phone number +49 761 203-3677 or E-Mail [email protected].
Apply
