Scholarships Info

Vegetation can strongly affect climate through: surface albedo(mediated by vegetation cover), exchange of water vapour (transpiration) and effects on atmospheric CO2 levels (photosynthesis). For future climate predictions, there is thus an increasing demand for suitable vegetation models. Models using ecological theory (optimization or evolutionary game theory) are particularly suitable candidates as they avoid the heavy reliance on parameters which has hampered the use of complex simulation models.

In this project you will use a combination of vegetation models based on ecological theory coupled to a hierarchy of climate (atmosphere) models to study these vegetation-climate feedbacks. This project entails a collaboration with the Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Research (IMAU) and the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development.

Qualifications
You will work on developing vegetation models based on ecological theory and test these against experiments and field data. In collaboration with the IMAU PhD, you will integrate these models into a vegetation-climate feedback model. This work will contribute to more realistic climate prediction models of the Dutch Meteorological Agency (KNMI).

You will hold a MSc or equivalent in Biology, Biogeography or a related natural science. You will preferably have experience in vegetation modelling and will have an affinity for ecology, climatology and mathematics.

Terms of employment

You are offered a full-time position for 4 years.

The salary starts at € 2,042.- and increases to € 2,612.- gross per month in the fourth year and is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8,3% per year. In addition we offer: a pension scheme, a partially paid parental leave, flexible employment conditions. Conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities. The research group will provide the candidate with necessary support on all aspects of the project.

More information about the terms of employment.

Further details

Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from: dr. Niels P.R. Anten (N.P.R.Anten@uu.nl).
How to apply

Please send your application (including a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae and contact details of at least two references) before March 15th 2011 to email: Science.PenO@uu.nl.

Please mention vacancy number 66102

Application Deadline : 15 March 2011

Find More Info here :

Comments are closed.

Searching for scholarships Tips

Searching for scholarships is a time consuming and, sometimes, costly experience that, with the right tools and guidance, can be relatively stress free and efficient. Knowing what sources to use, who to consult and basic strategy techniques can save a lot of unnecessary paperwork and time.

School Resources – Use Them!

Start with the easiest and most practical resource you have – your guidance counselor or advisor. Schools hire guidance counselors and advisors to help you make the transition into higher education and to assist in every manner possible when making that transition. Guidance counselors often have access to scholarship materials and applications that are available only to students at your school or are difficult to gain access to through other conventional methods. Additionally, if your school has a career center or library section devoted to college preparation, you have a good chance of finding scholarship materials as well. Look for books containing scholarships, different brochures promoting scholarships or other materials that may include such information.

If you know what colleges you’re most interested in attending, or already know where you will be attending college, then check with the financial aid office at those schools. Like high school specific scholarships, colleges frequently offer scholarships to students applying to or attending their school. Because the number of applicants for open scholarships is so large, it is always a good idea to start with scholarships available only to students at the high school you currently attend or at the college you plan on attending because the applicant pool is narrowed significantly.

Open Up Your Choices

After exhausting your resources at the respective career centers and financial aid offices, you can begin your scholarship search through the internet. The internet offers a wealth of scholarship information and opportunities, with some websites containing thousands of different scholarships. Many of these websites allow you to create a profile about yourself containing your grade point average, standardized test scores and extracurricular activities which will be compiled and then matched with scholarships meeting your profile. Some of these websites require a fee to use their services. Be sure you have used all other tools at your disposal before paying for a service that will provide you with a list of scholarships you are likely to find elsewhere for free.

Be specific and particular when reviewing the criteria scholarships require. If the scholarship qualifications include a grade point average of 3.2 and you have a 3.0, it generally isn’t worth your time to apply. Scholarship selection boards begin by narrowing their applicant pool down to students who qualify based on their initial application before reviewing essays, letters of recommendation and extracurricular activities. If your numbers don’t match the required criteria, all your time in preparing your application will likely be for nothing. Selection boards have a lot of applications to review, and they have to begin narrowing down their pool by first taking only applicants who meet the initial criteria. Instead, try to find scholarships which are specially tailored to some attribute you have that others may not. Many scholarships are based on the location you live in, gender, ethnicity or background. However, if, for example, your grade point average is close to meeting the specified criteria of the scholarship and you feel your grade point average will rise to meet that criteria once your last semester’s grades are added, then apply for the scholarship.

It All Pays in the End

The search for a scholarship can be lengthy and finding scholarships you are qualified for can be even more stressful. But your time and effort will pay off in the end if you have carefully sought out scholarships for which you qualify and have applied correctly. After all, the thousands of dollars a scholarship provides is well worth the hours spent finding the right scholarship for you.