Jobs

This post is for a soil modeler to develop, evaluate and apply a new model of hydrogen (H2) uptake and release by soils. The appointee will work in the School of Biological Sciences in the Environmental Modelling Group. The candidate should be adept in literature and database searches, and the use of appropriate statistical methods to (1) determine the controls for H2 diffusion, assimilation and release from soils, and (2) evaluate the developed model. The candidate should also have skills in computer programming, Fortran, Python or C++.

Job Description

Design and construction of a process-based soils model for H2 – The structure of a new model of H2 uptake and release will be developed. This will build on existing modelling work, but will aim to devise a functional model, that can be run using only data available in national datasets to provide global scale simulations. This requires that the model include only processes that are important at the larger scale. Experimental evidence from the literature will initially be used to develop the structure of the model by determining controlling factors and response functions for H2 uptake and release by soils. The process-based model of H2 uptake and release for a single spatial point will be constructed around the well-established and widely used Roth-C model of soil organic matter decomposition and respiration. Additional processes of diffusion, H2 assimilation and release will be added using the controls determined from the literature. A geographically explicit version of the model will then be constructed to run using nationally available datasets at the national to global scale. This will use the same descriptions as in the point-based model, driven by data from national datasets.

Model evaluation and application. The model will be evaluated against data produced by the project team. This evaluation will determine the uncertainty in the simulations as the root mean squared error between the simulations and the measurements, also testing the association between simulations and measurements using the correlation coefficient. Scenarios for simulations will be constructed. The input data for global simulations will be collated into a database describing land use and climate scenarios. These scenarios will include changes in climate (especially precipitation and land-use). The global simulations will be run using the constructed scenarios and the results analysed to predict potential future changes in H2 uptake and release by soils. The evaluation of the model will be used to determine the uncertainty in the predicted values.

Salary will be at the appropriate point on Grade 6, Point 30 with placement according to qualifications and experience.

The School of Biological Sciences embraces a diverse working environment and recognises the many benefits this can bring. Applications from individuals from across all of the equality protected characteristics are encouraged.