PhD student for studies in Microbiology

On 1st January 2010, Linnaeus University opened its doors for the first time as Sweden’s newest university, the result of a merger between Kalmar University and Växjö University.The Department of Biology and Environmental Science is part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. The research activities within this multidisciplinary school include the areas of Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Organic Chemistry, Marine Ecology and Microbiology.

Project title:
Molecular mechanisms for bacterial carbon cycling in the sea.

The research project:
Bacteria are major drivers of biogeochemical cycles in the sea, but molecular detail on how they impact on particular element cycles remains largely unknown. The Ph.D. study will investigate the role of marine bacterioplankton in carbon cycling by deciphering the genetic basis for organic carbon utilization. The research strategy includes enrichment experiments to examine which genes are differentially expressed in genome-sequenced marine model bacteria and natural marine bacterial assemblages exposed to ecologically relevant carbon compounds. Field studies will be done to determine the links between bacterioplankton community composition and differentiation in (meta-)genomically encoded carbon compound metabolisms. Analyses will involve state-of-the-art techniques in microbiology and molecular biology (e.g. gene expression analyses by next-generation sequencing methodologies).

Requirements:
Basic requirements for post-graduate studies are laid out in the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance (Högskoleförordningen), Chapter 7. The PhD studies are limited to 4 years (100%). Persons with combined experience in marine microbial ecology, molecular biology (preferably also experience with transcriptomics work) and bioinformatics are encouraged to apply. The starting point for the PhD education is flexible and may be negotiated.

For further information please contact Jarone Pinhassi, jarone.pinhassi@lnu.se,  +46-(0)480-446212, or Head of Department Tommy Claesson, tommy.claesson,  +46-(0)480-446238.

Union representatives may be contacted via the university switchboard at +46-772-288000.

Please apply through www.lnu.se and go to “jobs and vacancies”. The application should be registered no later than 1 July, 2013. Mark your application with reference number PA 2013/324-2.2.1.
The application (in English) should contain a CV, documentations of exams and grades, a copy of an undergraduate thesis, the name of two references (with telephone number and e-mail), a description of motivation and experience relevant to the research project and any other documentation that the applicant would like to present.