Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research

The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) is a member of the Helmholtz Association (HGF) and funded by federal and state government. AWI focuses on polar and marine research in a variety of disciplines such as biology, oceanography, geology, geochemistry and geophysics thus allowing multidisciplinary approaches to scientific goals.

Homepage: https://www.awi.de/

Background

The advertised position is part of the ERC Starting Grant project “Arctic Greenhouse Gas Sinks: Exploring Coldspots of Methane and Nitrous Oxide in the Permafrost Domain (COLDSPOT)”. This project investigates the magnitude and functioning of greenhouse gas sinks in the Arctic.
The release of greenhouse gases from the terrestrial biosphere has global significance. The Arctic acts as a net source of methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), making it a biogeochemically critical ecosystem due to its vast soil carbon and nitrogen reserves and above-average warming rates. Current reporting of Arctic greenhouse gases shows an observational bias toward high-emitting hotspot sites. In contrast, COLDSPOT focuses on Arctic locations that function as CH₄ and N₂O sinks, removing these climate-relevant gases from the atmosphere. Specifically, the project aims to investigate how plants influence nutrient availability and microbial activity, thereby regulating fluxes of CH₄, N₂O, and other climate-relevant gases.

What we are looking for

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with expertise in biogeochemistry, plant physiology, microbiology, or a related field. In this role, you will investigate how processes in the plant-soil-microbe continuum regulate greenhouse gas fluxes, with a particular focus on the consumption of atmospheric CH₄ and N₂O in Arctic ecosystems. You will study the biogeochemical and microbial functioning of CH₄ and N₂O sinks through a combination of field experiments (e.g., plant removal experiments) and laboratory manipulation of intact plant-soil systems (mesocosms) in climate chambers. Field sites are located in Canada and Finland.

You are encouraged to bring your own research ideas, with the project potentially focusing on various aspects of plant-soil interactions depending on your prior experience. In addition to in situ and lab-based greenhouse gas flux measurements, your work could emphasize:

- Microbial dynamics (e.g., methanotroph and nitrogen-cycling gene abundance and activity)
- Soil-plant-atmosphere fluxes of carbon, nitrogen, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Biological nitrogen fixation
- Stable isotope tracer experiments

You will join a new research group established through close collaboration between the Alfred Wegener Institute and the University of Hamburg. This position offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic team of experts and access state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. You are expected to participate in field expeditions, collaborate closely with team members and project partners, present findings at scientific meetings and conferences, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals. Opportunities for supervising students are also available, depending on your interests.

Your Tasks

- Independently plan and conduct field campaigns in the Canadian and Finnish Arctic
- Design and conduct lab experiments to investigate the biotic and abiotic mechanisms underlying CH4 and N2O uptake by Arctic soils, and link CH4 and N2O flux rates to nutrient cycling, plant- or microbial functioning
- Conduct experimental manipulation studies including a mesocosm experiment in climate-controlled chambers
- Collaborate closely with team members and scientific partners
- Publish results in peer-reviewed scientific journals
- Present results at national and international scientific conferences and team meetings

Your Profile

- A PhD in a relevant field
- Strong background in biogeochemical cycles, plant functioning and/or bioinformatics, ideally in high-latitude ecosystems
- Experience in field or lab-based measurements of either greenhouse gas fluxes, BVOCs, nitrogen fixation, nutrient turnover or microbiology
- Coding (e.g. R, Matlab, Python) and statistics skills
- Proven record of scientific work and publications in international scientific journals
- Ability to conduct independent work
- Willingness to participate in multi-week field expeditions to remote Arctic sites and work in diverse research teams
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- very good English skills (C1)

Other preferred qualifications and skills

- A driver’s license class B as well as Finnish and German language skills are an advantage

How to apply

Please submit your application by February 16th 2025, exclusively online through our job portal

Along with the application, please provide us with a cover letter detailing your motivation and research ideas, copies of degree certificates, list of publications, and a CV including names and contact details of three references.