Postdoctoral fellow in picophytoplankton ecology

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Where knowledge grows.
We are an international university in Småland, Sweden. Together we set knowledge in motion for a sustainable societal development.

The Department of Biology and Environmental Science is part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. The research activities within this multidisciplinary department include the areas of aquatic ecology, cell and organism biology, evolutionary biology, microbiology, environmental science and engineering as well as zoonotic ecology. For more information see: Lnu.se. 

Field of subject for the position: Picophytoplankton ecology
Placement: Kalmar, Sweden
Extent and period: The basis for a postdoctoral position is 100 % position for two years. 

Job description

The Postdoctoral fellow position is part of the research group Marine Plankton Ecology and Applications. The Postdoctoral fellow will be working within the picophytoplankton ecology team which aim to investigate the distribution, diversity and ecophysiology of marine and estuarine picophytoplankton. The research will be conducted in collaboration with other scientists within the Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems (EEMiS) within Linnaeus University that comprises expertise in ecology, evolution, and microbiology. 

We seek a highly motivated Postdoctoral fellow with a strong background in marine ecology research. The Postdoctoral fellow will investigate the controls of picophytoplankton in the Central Arctic Ocean and the Baltic Sea. In the unexplored Central Arctic Ocean (CAO), photosynthetic picoeukaryotes are thought to dominate phytoplankton biomass. However, rapidly changing climate conditions, including warmer waters and increased ocean stratification, may favor the widely-distributed picocyanobacterium Synechococcus, potentially leading to dramatic ecosystem shifts. Methods used will include traditional and modern microbial ecology techniques such as  dilution experiments to explore grazing and virus removal of picophytoplankton, flow cytometry as well as high throughput molecular methods to explore the distribution and diversity of picophytoplankton. The work in the Baltic Sea will include sampling and analysis of data of picophytoplankton from field stations and monitoring programs. 

20 % of the work can include teaching and tutoring in the undergraduate and graduate level.   

Requirements

Qualified for the position is one who holds a PhD, or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD in Oceanography, Aquatic ecology or equivalent, and who has completed their degree no more than three years before the application deadline. 

Applicants must not have previously been employed as a postdoctoral fellow for more than a year in the same or related subject area at Linnaeus University. 

Specific requirements refer to


• Documented experience of organizing scientific expeditions, experiments and conduction field sampling.
• Expertise in applying flow cytometry techniques to measure abundance and pigment composition of marine microorganisms.
• Experience with analysis of molecular data such as metagenomes and gene amplicon data to explore microbial distribution, diversity and interactions.
• Previous experience with working in polar areas is highly beneficial.
• High proficiency in written and spoken English. 

Other assessment grounds


• Activity and passion for science outreach such as blogs, video, social media and school visits.
• Creative thinking and problem solving.
• Having the ability to work independently as well as interact well in a research group.
• Potential for a successful career as a teacher and researcher.
• Personal suitability.
• B-drivers license. 

The application (in English) should contain a CV (with telephone and e-mail), documentation of exams and grades, a description of personal motivation and experiences relevant to the research project and any other documentation that the applicant would like to present. The candidates should also provide contact details (including telephone number and e-mail address) of two reference persons. Application should arrive no later than January 15, 2021. 

Contacts

Associate Professor Hanna Farnelid (hanna.farnelid@lnu.se) +46-(0)480-446296;
Professor Catherine Legrand (catherine.legrand@lnu.se) +46-(0)-447309;
Head of Department Per-Eric Betzholtz (per-eric.betzholtz@lnu.se), +46-(0)480-446238;
HR partner Stiina Salmgren (stiina.salmgren@lnu.se), +46 (0)480-44 64 06. 

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

 


Linnaeus University has the ambition to utilize the qualities that an even gender distribution and diversity brings to the organization.

Please apply by clicking on the "Apply" button at the bottom of the ad. Your application should be designed according to the Template for application which can be found in the Guide to Appointment procedures under important documents below the ad. The credentials you invoke must be verified with certification and they must be attached digitally in your application. Other documents, including various types of scientific works, must be submitted digitally along with the application. The application and other documents to be marked with the reference number. All documents cited must be received by the University no later than 24.00 (Local time in Sweden) on the closing day.