Fully funded PhD or post-doc position

Modeling the transformation of pure even-aged coniferous forest into uneven-aged and mixed forests: its consequences on forest resilience and ecosystem services

RESEARCH PROJECT

Across Europe with the exception of some mountainous regions, coniferous forest has been traditionally managed with clear-cuts and single species plantations. Today, transforming the coniferous plantations into multi-aged ones is attracting growing interest in Europe. Such forest are thought to be more resilient and economically more efficient when taking into account the diversity of the ecosystem services that forest delivers. Nevertheless, there is today almost no existing tool and silvicultural guide to foresee how such new management will affect future forest timber production, ecosystem services and forest resilience. On another hand, some advanced models of forest dynamics have already been developed for uneven-aged and mixed stands. In particularly, SAMSARA2 is a model of forest dynamics that has originally been developed for stands of spruce, fir and beech in the Alps.

The aim of this project is to adapt and calibrate SAMSARA2 to the local conditions met in plantations of spruce and Douglas-fir in the Belgian Ardennes. The data required to calibrate the model will be obtained from an in situ experiment conducted in 9x1 ha plot that have been monitored since 2014. Once the model will be calibrated, simulations will be performed to explore the effects of the transformation of coniferous plantations on timber production, ecosystem services and resilience.

MISSIONS

The candidate’s missions will be to:

• Calibrate some key processes of SAMSARA2. Depending on candidate’s affinity, different processes might be chosen (e.g. interception of light by tree crown, tree growth, regeneration density, tree micro-habitats, …)
• Participate to the field monitoring in the 9x1 plots in the Belgian Ardennes
• Gather the required information from the literature and field monitoring
• Develop and conduct new field measurement protocols to collect additional data
• Run model simulations
• Take part to meetings with partners
• Write reports, scientific and popular articles.

CANDIATE’S PROFILE

The candidate should hold a master in ecological modeling, forest science or environmental science. The candidate should be very interested in forest modeling. The candidate will benefit from knowledge in statistical modeling (preferably with R), silviculture and forest ecology. Knowledge of a programming language (preferably Java) is a plus.

OUR OFFER

This position is opened at Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège (https://www.gembloux.uliege.be).

• 1-year contract as full-time PhD or Post Doc. 1-year contracts will be repeated during 2-3 years (Post Doc) or 4 years (PhD)
• Net monthly salary of 2100-2700 €/month depending on candidate’s degree and working experience
• Starting date: as soon as possible
• The successful candidate will be based in Gembloux, but will have the opportunity to visit partner modeling groups in France (Grenoble, Montpelier) and present research results in international conferences. CONTACT

For applications, please send your CV and a motivation letter to Gauthier Ligot (gligot@uliege.be).

Application deadline: until position is filled