Terrestrial Carbon Specialist

The Terrestrial Carbon Group project, housed at the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment in Washington, DC, seeks a Terrestrial Carbon Specialist on a full-time, 3-month contract basis for immediate start.

Terrestrial carbon (trees, soil, peat, etc) is a critical untapped element of the climate change response that could provide up to 25% of the solution. The Terrestrial Carbon Group has proposed a system to credibly include terrestrial carbon in developing nations in the international response to climate change using carbon markets.

Position Overview: 

The Terrestrial Carbon Specialist will be accountable for undertaking background research and synthetic secondary analysis of the scientific knowledge base relevant to a project to develop a Roadmap for Terrestrial Carbon: Research Needs for Implementation of Carbon Management in Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses.  This work will outline: 

1. critical science and technology gaps that must be addressed to provide the quantitative basis for assigning climate change linked incentives for better management of terrestrial carbon;
2. technical investments and actions needed to accelerate avoided emissions and sequestration of terrestrial carbon; and
3. essential roles that specific institutions can play. 

A final document, to be completed in November 2009, will set out a deliberate roadmap for research activities in 2010-2012 to fill gaps.

Responsibilities: 

Primary tasks will include:

• Perform independent literature review and web-based research on scientific terrestrial carbon topics in close cooperation with project director
• Investigate, characterize and track organizations working on the science of AFOLU at multiple scales
• Produce diagrams, tables and figures to usefully illustrate key ideas

Qualifications: 

Essential skills and credentials include:

• Higher degree or comparable experience in environmental science, preferably with emphasis on terrestrial carbon dynamics or accounting
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative analytical skills and attention to detail
• Ability to draft and review written materials for technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to find and evaluate the relevance of data and information from diverse sources and  coherently synthesize and meticulously track sources of information
• Efficiency in following up on leads and references and integrating findings into a continually evolving document
• Ability to work effectively and transparently within a small team and communicate succinctly and clearly
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (including fluency in English)

The contractor will report to the Science Director of the Terrestrial Carbon Group project. 

To Apply:

Please send a resume and cover letter to Caroline Sweedo.