We now seek to strengthen our team with additional expertise on soil organic carbon dynamics. The successful candidate will focus on the role of soil biota in organic carbon transformations (pools) in association with soil structure and aggregate fractions. The person will contribute to the evaluation and development of methods and indicators for soil organic carbon stabilization and assessment of soil functions in agricultural soils.

The portfolio for this position will be split into four key areas;

1. Education - the post-doc will contribute 20% of his/her time to teaching with a focus on soil carbon dynamics.
2. Externally funded research - the post-doc will join existing research projects for 35% of his/her time, focussed on the role of soil organic carbon.
3. Development of new project proposals - The post-doc will be encouraged to develop new proposals with the support of the Soil Biology group, this will utilise 35% of his/her time.
4. Contribute to the Soil Biology Group discussions and activities (10%).

Existing research projects include topics such as; the application of organic waste amendments for soil carbon stabilization and trade-off/ synergies with nutrient provision and climate resilience (EU projects), evaluating methods for the assessment of carbon dynamics in soil quality/health assessment (trans-atlantic project).

The successful candidate will:

• develop new ideas and approaches to investigate determinants of soil carbon dynamics (e.g. nutrient stochiometry, soil minerology and quality of organic soil amendments, as well as the relations between soil carbon dynamics and soil functioning to inform sustainable agricultural practices.- attract external funding to support the continuity of research activities;
• publish in high-ranking scientific journals and through technical and popular communication channels;
• demonstrate a passion for teaching in BSc / MSc courses offered by the Soil Biology group;
• (co)supervise PhD candidates, MSc and BSc students;
• interact / share knowledge with target stakeholders such as farmers, policy makers and industry (e.g., waste recycling) and contribute to outreach activities of the Soil Biology group.

Applicants for this post-doctoral position should hold a PhD in soil microbiology/ biogeochemistry, soil science, soil ecology and/or agronomy, with a strong soil-related background, experience with soil-related laboratory techniques and statistical methods, and publishing peer-reviewed articles. Applicants should have an interest to collaborate at a multi-disciplinary level, within the team as well as internationally. Excellent communication and writing skills in English are considered important assets. For further details on the essential/desired requirements of candidates, please see the table in Appendix 1. Applicants are kindly asked to refer to these requirements in their application.

Appendix: Applicant requirements Requirement Essential Preferred Academic qualifications PhD in soil microbiology/ biogeochemistry, soil science, soil ecology. More than two years experience as a post-doctoral researcher or equivalent function.
Knowledge Thorough knowledge (practical, theoretical and contextual) of;
soil organic carbon pools, soil microbial ecology, nutrient stochiometry and soil structure The role of organic soil amendments in soil quality, soil functions, soil agronomic management practices. Skills Strong laboratory skills in soil organic carbon analyses, including labile and recalcitrant pools, a range of soil biology methods.

Proven scientific writing and presentation skills. Applicants are invited to provide examples of their papers;
Laboratory skills soil aggregate fractionation, PLFA analysis, ....

Ability to communicate research outcomes succinctly to a variety of non-scientific audiences; applicants are invited to provide examples;

We offer a temporary contract for 2 years, with potential to enter tenure track after 2 years. Salary before tax, depending on expertise and experience, amounts to € 3.303 till € 4.033 per month. In addition we offer an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end- of-year bonus (8.3%), the ABP Pension scheme and training and career development. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may also qualify for a temporary special tax relief, in which 30% of their salary is exempt from tax.

For more information about Tenure Track within Wageningen UR look at www.wageningenur.nl/en/Jobs/Your-development-in-focus/Tenure-Track.htm

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University and Research centre (Wageningen UR) is a leading international organization. Within the field of healthy nutrition and living environment we are working on the quality of life.

The Soil Biology Group blends expertise from the soil, plant and ecological sciences to strengthen cutting edge research and education in the areas of Fertile Soils; Soils in a Changing Climate; Functional Soil Biodiversityand Soil Biological Indicators and Land Management.

The Soil Biology group integrates knowledge on soil biota across a range of scales from the microbe to the globe. Our mission is to use soil processes driven by soil biota to develop and maintain sustainable agro-ecosystems. We have four core themes in which we focus our research:

1. The role of soil biota in nutrient cycling to enhance plant soil interactions and associated ecosystem services;
2. The species richness and community composition of soil biota coupled with soil functions (nutrient provision, carbon management, pest and disease resilience and resistance, water regulation and purification) in (agro)ecosystems;
3. How soil and land management can enhance soil health and the beneficial soil functions provided by soil biota;
4. The effects of climate change on soil life, and the controls that soil life exerts on greenhouse gas emissions from the soil.

Our multi-disciplinary team includes expertise in soil organic matter and nutrient dynamics, soil communities and biological processes, plant-soil interactions and feedbacks, trait-based ecology of soil biota, soil biological indicators and biofunctionality of carbon. The Soil Biology Group is supported by four laboratories, including; a soil biology lab, microscopy lab, microbiology lab and molecular ecology lab. We also work in close collaboration with soil chemistry laboratories and with a soil physics lab.