Jobs & Scholarships

PhD student in Limnology, Molecular Microbial Ecology, Limnology/Department of Ecology and Evolution (Uppsala University, Sweden), in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Microbiology (UFZ, Leipzig, Germany).’

Microbial communities inhabiting aquifers are expected to be well adapted to the nutrient-poor groundwater environment. Massive carbon inputs (e.g. petroleum spills) are an extreme challenge to such communities. Although aquifers are thought to be particularly vulnerable towards anthropogenic impacts due to low turnover rates, we can find evidence for naturally occurring degradation of pollutants in groundwater systems. Unfortunately, our knowledge of the processes governing the degradation of pollutants by natural microbial communities is limited. Consequently, the stress responses of groundwater ecosystems, and thus the stability and resilience of the services they provide are largely unknown.
The main task of the PhD student will be to identify the key players in hydrocarbon degradation and analyze their (meta)genome using techniques such as CARD-FISH, MAR-FISH, Magneto-FISH, pyrosequencing and sequence analysis. The aim is to provide insight into the processes governing intrinsic bioremediation.

The position is at Uppsala University, but the work will be located both in Uppsala (Sweden) and Leipzig (Germany).
We seek a highly motivated creative person with a strong interest in interdisciplinary research and the willingness to live and work at both locations (Uppsala and Leipzig) during their PhD studies. Candidates should have a master (Diplom or equivalent) in Biology and should have a very good knowledge of English.

For further information contact Dr. Annelie Wendeberg, +49 (0)341 235 1377, e-mail: annelie.pernthaler@ufz.de, or Dr. Stefan Bertilson +46-18-4712712, e-mail: stebe@ebc.uu.se.