Postdoc: Phosphorus Limitations in Shifting Cultivation Systems

About the role

The Global Critical Zone Science Chair (GCZSC), jointly hosted by LSCE (France) and UM6P (Morocco), offers a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship split between the two countries. The research focuses on emerging phosphorus limitations in shifting cultivation systems of Central Africa and their implications for cash crop yields and carbon sequestration. The successful candidate will use advanced land surface modeling calibrated to field and satellite observations.

Key responsibilities

• Use the ORCHIDEE CNP land surface model to simulate biogeochemical cycles under shifting cultivation with varying forest regeneration times.
• Calibrate the model to crop yield responses from fertilizer trials (with OCP Nutricrops) and satellite-observed forest biomass recovery.
• Integrate the model across environmental conditions and test different yields and forest rotation lengths.
• Produce a first publication on carbon and nutrient budgets at system level, then integrate phosphorus fertilizer practices in subsistence cropping systems to quantify yield benefits and carbon storage impacts.
• Assess how carbon credits from improved shifting cultivation management could generate revenue for farmers and reduce indirect land-use emissions.

Required profile

• PhD or Master's degree in environmental sciences, agronomy, applied mathematics, computer science or an equivalent field.
• Autonomy, teamwork and time management skills.
• Experience in multidisciplinary teams and effective communication with project partners.

Required skills

• Programming, preferably in Fortran, Python or R.
• Remote sensing data processing and analysis.
• Knowledge of biogeochemical cycles.
• Experience with process-oriented modeling.

Supervision comes from the Global Critical Zone Science Chair at UM6P (Benguerir, Morocco) and from LSCE (near Paris), with Professor Daniel Nahon leading the Chair and researchers Daniel Goll and Philippe Ciais supervising the project. Applications go to UM6P with a CV, statement of motivation and answers to the selection criteria.