[ECOLOG-L] PhD assistantship Soil 15N as a potential indicator of land use intensity

[=?iso-8859-1?Q?Louis_Schipper?=]

A 3 year PhD fellowship is available within a programme funded to develop 
environmental indicators derived from isotope measurements to improve 
certainty in models used to manage nitrogen on farms and in river 
catchments. To reverse trends of decreasing water quality caused by high 
nitrogen loads from pastoral agriculture, New Zealand needs direct and 
simple environmental indicators to support nitrogen (N) management on farms 
and within catchments. The purpose of the PhD thesis will be to evaluate 
and develop the N isotope ratio (15N/14N) of soil as an indicator of the 
vulnerability of farm units to ongoing losses of N. The basis for this work 
is the concept that management-related N losses, such as nitrate leaching 
and denitrification, discriminate against the heavy isotope, 15N. The PhD 
project will be based at the University of Waikato, and collaborate with 
scientists from the National Isotope Center (GNS Science), Lincoln 
University, and Environment Canada. Applicants are expected to have a 
background in soil science/land management with an interest in farm 
production and/or environmental impacts. The position will involve 
considerable field and laboratory work. Annual stipend is $26K plus fees 
paid, tax free. For further information or to apply, please email or send 
letter of application, contact details for 2 referees, and CV to Dr Louis 
Schipper, [EMAIL PROTECTED], Earth and Ocean Science, Private Bag 
3105, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Screening of candidates 
starts Mid Oct 2008 until position filled. 
http://sci.waikato.ac.nz/staff/erth/schipper.