We are looking for a Ph.D. student to study community metabolism, energy flow and calcification in tropical coral and temperate deepwater coral communities maintained in mesocosms. The project involves the use of state-of-the-science approaches to investigate the differential response of these two communities to elevated CO2, organic matter and nutrient loadings. CO2 controlled incubation devices will be used to experimentally assess the response of coral communities to atmospheric CO2 levels projected for the year 2100 (~ 700 ppmv) and to identify synergetic effects of elevated CO2, temperature and nutrient supply on calcification and community metabolism. Stable carbon isotopes will be used as deliberate tracers to unravel and quantify flows of energy and matter within the benthic community and from organic matter to aragonite/calcite. 13C added in the form of phytodetritus or bicarbonate will be traced in primary producer (algae), consumer (bacteria and metazoans) and calcium carbonate produced.

Applicants must have a Masters Degree or equivalent in ecology, environmental sciences, geosciences or oceanography, and be able to communicate in English. Applicants can originate from anywhere in the world, and cannot have resided in the host country for more than 5 years. Candidates should be interested in combined experimental-analytical-modeling research and are expected to complete a Ph.D. thesis in 4 years.

Additional information about the job:
The Ph.D. student will be employed at Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology (NIOO-CEME) in Yerseke, The Netherlands, but the experimental work with corals will be executed at ZMT (Centre for Tropical Marine Ecology, Bremen, Germany http://www.zmt-bremen.de/) for two periods of about 5-6 months. NIOO is a member of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network consortium CALMARO (Calcification by Marine Organisms; http://www.calmaro.eu/). CALMARO aims at improving the career perspectives of early researchers by offering structured training in the field of Calcification by Marine Organisms as well as providing complementary skills and exposing the researchers to other sectors including private companies. CALMARO comprises investigation of calcareous structures as well as calcification processes and the sensitivities to changes in environmental conditions at all scales ranging from cellular, organism, population to ecosystem, and regional to global levels.

NIOO - KNAW

The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) is a top research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). It comprises three centers: the Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology (CEME) in Yerseke, the Centre for Limnology (CL) in Nieuwersluis, and the Centre for Terrestrial Ecology (CTE) in Heteren. Mission of the NIOO (http://www.nioo.knaw.nl) is to carry out excellent fundamental and strategic research in ecology.

Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000
Salaryscale 10.
Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: Initially for 1 year, possible extension to 4 years.
Maximum hours per week: 38

Additional conditions of employment:
The gross salary starts at € 2000, - per month in the 1st year, and will gradually increase to a maximum of € 2558, - per month in the 4th year.

 
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You can apply for this job before 01-11-2008 by sending your application to:

When applying for this job always mention the vacancy number AT2988.