Researcher focusing on filamentous cyanobacteria and nitrogen fixation

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 130 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 centre for landscape-level processes that also includes the Departments of ‘Soil and Environment’ and ‘Energy and Technology’. 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.
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Duties:
The research includes two summers of field measurements of nitrogen fixation and nitrogen cycling in the Gulf of Bothnia. The work includes designing and performing field sampling using stable isotope incubations for single-cell and bulk measurements of nitrogen cycling. You are expected to take a leading role in the implementation and planning of the field expeditions as well as subsequent analyses using secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), elemental analyser isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS), and molecular analyses (metagenomics and metatranscriptomics). The project is also directly linked to biogeochemical modellers at the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) and therefore the job will also include modelling interpretation and large-data handling tasks. It also includes collaboration with stakeholders along the coastline of the Gulf of Bothnia.

Qualifications:
The candidate must have a doctorate in Natural Sciences specializing in Marine Sciences. The candidate must be a junior researcher with a completed postdoctoral fellowship, preferably from an institution other than the host institution. Eligible to apply is the person who has completed a doctoral degree no more than five years before the end of the application period.

The person should have a strong publication record in the field of cyanobacteria ecology and nitrogen fixation to demonstrate experience in the type of analyses necessary for the project. Microscopy experience in identifying filamentous cyanobacteria is a prerequisite. It is an advantage if the candidate also has considerable experience in Baltic Sea fieldwork, including stable isotope incubation experiments and sample analysis with SIMS and EA-IRMS. It is also an advantage if the candidate has previous documented experience on collaboration with biogeochemical modellers. It is an additional advantage if the candidate has documented experience in communication with stakeholders along the coast of Gulf of Bothnia. Collaboration with researcher in other countries around the Baltic Sea is also an advantage.

The candidate must be able to communicate fluently (in writing and orally) in both English and Swedish. There is also a requirement to have documented course credits within higher education pedagogics from a Swedish University for being able to supervise students during the project.

Place of work:
Uppsala

Form of employment:
Permanent employment. SLU uses probationary employment.

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
2022-07-01

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2022-06-03, 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) is a world-class international university with research, education and environmental assessment within the sciences for sustainable life. Its principal sites are in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational establishments throughout Sweden. We bring together people who have different perspectives, but they all have one and the same goal: to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world.

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.

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