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Research topic: Towards discovering early-warning signals of drought stress in urban tree species [STRESSUR] (Prof. Dr. R. Peters)
Doctoral Candidate for STRESSUR (m/f/x) (Entg.-Gr. TV-L)
18.11.2024, Wissenschaftliches Personal
The Research Training Group “Urban Green Infrastructure - Training Next Generation Professionals for Integrated Urban Planning Research” aims to conduct inter- and transdisciplinary research into innovative approaches for liveable, sustainable and climate change resilient cities through green infrastructure. We are looking for a candidate for a 0.75 or 1.0 position (limited to three years) to be filled as of April 1, 2025 as part of a DFG-funded Research Training Group.
As climate change accelerates, trees in urban environments are increasingly exposed to atmospheric drought due to the rising vapor pressure deficit (VPD). This environmental shift forces trees to close their stomata in an attempt to conserve water and avoid lethal embolisms. In urban areas, this stress is further intensified by the urban heat island effect and increased salinity, which makes it crucial to understand species-specific stress thresholds.
The halting of transpiration as a result of stomatal closure not only impacts the health of urban trees but also diminishes their ability to provide critical ecosystem services, such as microclimatic temperature regulation. Cities, therefore, need to determine when targeted irrigation is required to sustain tree health and ensure the continuation of these ecosystem services.
This project seeks to develop near-real-time monitoring methods for transpiration rates to assess drought stress in urban trees and identify irrigation needs. The following key research questions will guide the project:
1. How is water use regulated in urban trees during drought periods?
2. Which ecophysiological measurements can provide near-real-time insights into the drought stress experienced by specific tree species?
3. Can we develop a predictive model to identify periods when irrigation will support both transpiration and tree growth?
Intended Methods:
In this project, you will collect data from multiple tree species across the city of Munich. Utilizing state-of-the-art automated sap flow sensors, specifically the heat-ratio method, you will accurately quantify transpiration at sub-hourly resolutions. This data, combined with local meteorological information, will enable precise identification of periods when stomatal closure occurs, signalling the onset of drought stress.
A unique aspect of this project is the use of novel dendrometer sensors, which are capable of recording both drought stress and growth signals. In addition, weekly branch sampling will be conducted to measure leaf water potential—a critical indicator of drought stress—and assess the risks of lethal embolisms in the trees. This comprehensive dataset will allow for the precise determination of drought stress periods across species.
Finally, these ecophysiological measurements will support the development and application of a mechanistic model capable of continuously simulating drought stress in urban trees. This model will help inform irrigation strategies tailored to different species, ensuring the maintenance of valuable ecosystem services provided by these urban trees.
Your profile:
-Background in urban ecology and environmental science: A foundational understanding of urban ecosystems, plant physiology, and climate change.
-Experience in field data collection: The ability to collect accurate and representative data on vegetation, environmental conditions, and thermal properties.
-Proficiency in programming languages (e.g., Python, R) is beneficial for data analysis, visualization, and model integration.
-An interest in electronics and mechanistic modelling
-Good communication skills in English. German is a plus.
The gender- and diversity-balanced filling of doctoral positions is a particular concern of ours.
Interested?
Send us your informative application documents (letter of motivation, CV, certificates) including a brief description of your previous activities as a single PDF file (file name: Research Topic_Lastname.Surename.pdf) to rtg.lapl@ls.tum.de
For technical and organizational questions about the Research Training Group, please contact the spokesperson:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Pauleit, pauleit@tum.de
If you have any questions about the various research topics, the professors mentioned will be happy to answer them.
Note on data protection: In the course of your application for a position at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), you will transmit personal data. Please refer to our data protection information in accordance with Article 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) regarding the collection and processing of personal data as part of your application. By submitting your application, you confirm that you have taken note of TUM's data protection information.
https://portal.mytum.de/kompass/datenschutz/Bewerbung/
The position is suitable for disabled persons. Disabled applicants will be given preference in case of generally equivalent suitability, aptitude and professional performance.
Data Protection Information:
When you apply for a position with the Technical University of Munich (TUM), you are submitting personal information. With regard to personal information, please take note of the Datenschutzhinweise gemäß Art. 13 Datenschutz-Grundverordnung (DSGVO) zur Erhebung und Verarbeitung von personenbezogenen Daten im Rahmen Ihrer Bewerbung. (data protection information on collecting and processing personal data contained in your application in accordance with Art. 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)). By submitting your application, you confirm that you have acknowledged the above data protection information of TUM.
Kontakt: rtg.lapl@ls.tum.de
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