Researcher - Ecology of anaerobic microbial communities

Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment
The Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment (www.slu.se/aquatic-sciences) is working with applied environmental science, with a national responsibility for assessing the condition of Swedish surface waters with respect to water chemistry, pollution and aquatic biota. The department has some 120 employees. The research focuses on geochemical and hydrological processes, aquatic ecology and biodiversity, as well as on aquatic ecotoxicology and environmental chemistry. The department is part of a Soil-Water-Environment cluster, a recently established competence center for landscape-level processes at Campus Ultuna in Uppsala. The breadth of expertise among the 300 members in combination with a well-equipped infrastructure creates a unique platform for high quality research as well as environmental monitoring and assessment.
Duties:
The position will be embedded in a dynamic and new research group in aquatic microbial ecology and biogeochemistry. We study microorganisms and their processes in lakes and other aquatic ecosystems using a combination of molecular, cellular and isotope tracer methods. Tools such as large-scale metagenome sequencing and single cell analyses are frequently used and the research include both field work and controlled laboratory experiments. Current focal areas are microbial carbon, nitrogen and mercury transformation while we also have ongoing research in polar microbiology, deep biosphere exploration and studies of host-associated microorganisms and symbioses.

The researcher will participate in two coupled projects designed to advance our understanding of the diversity, interactions and metabolic function of microbial communities that do not have access to oxygen; an international collaboration to study the feed-microbiome-host axis in fish and an interdisciplinary exploration of microbial communities in high latitude wetlands and the role that these microbial systems play in organic matter processing. An array of advanced molecular methods will be used, including single cell genomics, metagenome and metatranscriptome sequencing, metabolite analyses and metabolic modeling. The researcher will enjoy a great deal of independence, but is expected to collaborate with a local and internationally distributed team of expert scientists. You will be able to influence the study design and will get to report the work in scientific publications. There will also be opportunities to train and learn new techniques and to supervise student projects.

Qualifications:
The successful candidate must have a PhD or equivalent degree in biology, bioengineering or related subjects, with strong merits in microbiology and/or environmental genomics. The candidate must have documented experience and knowledge sufficient for using modern DNA/RNA-based methods to functionally analyze complex microbial communities. More advanced training and skills in biochemistry, systems biology or bioinformatics will strengthen your application. Good command of the English language is a requirement, as is demonstrated ability to effectively and clearly communicate research results in scientific publications.

Place of work:
Uppsala

Form of employment:
Fixed term employment of 24 months

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
According to agreement

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2020-08-31, use the button below.

Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/



The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) develops the understanding and sustainable use and management of biological natural resources. The university ranks well internationally within its subject areas. SLU is a research-intensive university that also offers unique degree programmes in for example rural development and natural resource management, environmental economics, animal science and landscape architecture.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala.

www.slu.se

SLU is an equal opportunity employer.