Postdoc in Field-Based Boron and Potassium Biogeochemistry (Global Critical Zone Science Chair)
The Global Critical Zone Science Chair at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is offering a two-year postdoctoral fellowship focused on field-based boron and potassium biogeochemistry. The position is part of a multidisciplinary research initiative aimed at understanding forest nutrition and nutritional stress in Eucalyptus forest stands in Brazil, with a broader context of critical zone science. The critical zone encompasses the near-surface environment where complex interactions among rock, soil, water, air, and living organisms regulate natural habitats and resource availability.
Forests play a vital role in global climate regulation, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem services. However, their productivity is often limited by the availability of soil nutrients, including major elements like potassium and minor elements such as boron. This project seeks to advance knowledge of nutritional dynamics in forest ecosystems by investigating the balance between organic and mineral nutrient sources, using innovative isotopic techniques—particularly boron isotopes, and potentially potassium isotopes.
The research will leverage recent advances in non-traditional stable isotope analysis to trace nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. Boron, a micronutrient involved in various physiological processes, undergoes significant isotopic fractionation, making it a powerful tool for studying biogeochemical cycles. The project will focus on Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil, which are highly productive and managed with intensive fertilization. These plantations are ideal for modeling biogeochemical cycles and understanding the impact of nutrient limitations, especially in boron-poor soils.
The primary field site, EucFlux, is a 200-hectare instrumented Eucalyptus plantation monitored since 2008. The postdoctoral researcher will use existing infrastructure and additional experimental equipment to establish partial boron mass balances at different developmental stages of Eucalyptus stands, subject to varying fertilization regimes. The research will involve collecting and analyzing samples from multiple critical zone compartments, including soil, vegetation, soil pore water, river water, and atmospheric deposition. Collaboration with private sector partners and international teams is integral to the project.
This postdoc is associated with the Nutribor project, funded by the French National Research Agency and led by Professor Jérôme Gaillardet. Nutribor aims to apply boron isotopes across critical zone observatories covering environmental and geological gradients. The successful candidate will join the Nutribor scientific community and benefit from a multidisciplinary research environment, including comparison with controlled experiments at the Ecotron facility near Paris.
Applicants must hold a PhD in environmental science, soil science, surface geochemistry, or related fields from a recognized Moroccan or African university. A strong publication record in international journals, experience in soil field work, and expertise in isotopic geochemistry techniques and/or modeling are required. Excellent English communication skills and proficiency in both field and laboratory work are essential. The fellowship provides funding for research activities, international collaboration, and high-precision isotopic measurements.
To apply, submit your application via the academic positions portal. Ensure your CV, publication record, and relevant experience are clearly documented. Only candidates from Moroccan or African universities are eligible. For further information, contact the Global Critical Zone Science Chair at UM6P.
