Posts Tagged ‘Microbial Communities’

NSF-IGERT Ph.D. Traineeships in Geomicrobiology

We are excited to announce the availability of Ph.D. traineeships as part of a National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) Program focused on the geomicrobiology of complex microbiological systems. This graduate program brings together expertise in hydrodynamics, geochemistry, microbial ecology, biochemistry and genomics. The primary goal of this research and education program is to train students to use interdisciplinary approaches in the study of microbial communities that lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the important interface between the biosphere and geosphere. The novel training program encompasses research scientists focused on the microbiology of extreme thermal (Thermal Biology Institute), psychrophilic (SubZero Science and , or industrial biofilm communities.

For more information and application instructions, please consult the IGERT Program on-line at www.igertmsu.montana.edu.

If you need additional information regarding program content or application procedures, please contact Dr. Bill Inskeep (binskeep@montana.edu) or Dr. Christine Foreman (cforeman@montana.edu).

Graduate Fellowship/Assistantship in Oceans & Human Health

We are seeking a self-motivated, enthusiastic student to participate in a National Science Foundation, Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease project beginning Summer 2010. The project focuses on interactions between microbial communities, marine aggregates and suspension feeding bivalves. Research initiatives will evaluate the links between aggregates and public health by examining the way in which aggregates mediate uptake and accumulation of pathogens in several species of commercially important bivalves. Techniques of microbiology, video endoscopy, and molluscan physiology will be employed in the research. The successful candidate will work towards a doctoral degree in Oceanography (Marine Biology concentration) at the marine sciences campus of the University of Connecticut in recently constructed research facilities. The student will interact with collaborating scientists at Old Dominion University (Virginia), University of Minnesota-Duluth, and University of Georgia. Additional opportunities for interaction are possible between the student and participants of Connecticut’s “Interdisciplinary Research and Training Initiative on Coastal Ecosystems and & Human Health” (www.i-rich.uconn.edu/).

Applications are being accepted from candidates who have a background in microbiology or related field, and who are interested in shellfish biology and human health. Applicants with a MS degree are preferred, but those with a BS and at least 1-year work experience will be considered. Screening of applications will begin in November and the successful student will be notified in January 2010. This is a competitive research assistantship position and carries with it a full stipend (9 months plus summer salary) and tuition benefit. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Interested individuals should contact Dr. J. Evan Ward (evan.ward@uconn.edu; http://web2.uconn.edu/jevanward/). More information about the Department of Marine Sciences’ graduate program can be found at www.marinesciences.uconn.edu.

PhD student in Limnology, Molecular Microbial Ecology

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.

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