http://www.bayceer.uni-bayreuth.de/hypotrain/
PhD position No. 8 in Marie
Skłodowska-Curie ITN HypoTRAIN:
Microbial catalysts associated with organic
micropollutant degradation
The University of Bayreuth in Bayreuth, Germany (UBT) is offering a fully funded PhD
student position within the EU-funded Innovative Training Network (ITN) HypoTRAIN
(Hyporheic Zone Processes – A training network for enhancing the understanding of complex
physical, chemical and biological process interactions, www.hypoTRAIN.eu). The successful
candidate (Early Stage Researcher, ESR) will be tackling scientific and technical challenges
spanning from lab to field experiments, from pure culture studies to molecular microbial
ecology, and from process studies with conventional analytics to those with advanced MSbased chemical analytics. The ultimate goal of the project HypoTRAIN is to improve the
interdisciplinary understanding of microbial community structure and processes at aquiferstream interfaces which are commonly considered as hot spots of turnover and as relevant for
the ecological state of both adjacent compartments.
Description
Hyporheic zones are key compartments for the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. As
dynamic and complex transition regions between rivers and aquifers, they are characterized
by the simultaneous occurrence of multiple physical, biological and chemical processes.
Microbial turnover and degradation of nutrients and pollutants are among the prominent
ecological services the hyporheic zone provides. We are facing a significant knowledge gap in
the understanding of how hyporheic processes are linked and how they impact on each other.
The ecology and identity of microbes that drive pollutant degradation are likewise unresolved.
This can be attributed to a lack of truly supra-disciplinary research and harmonized innovative
investigation methods.
The concept of HypoTRAIN has been tailored to fill this gap. Collaborative research with
state-of-the-art technologies from multiple disciplines (hydrology, ecology, microbiology,
engineering, environmental physics, contaminant science, modelling) will generate new
mechanistic insights into the functioning of hyporheic zones. A group of PhD students will be
educated using the multi-faceted nature of hyporheic zones as the central theme of the training
programme. The supra-disciplinary expertise within the network and the high-level training
programme will generate scientific knowledge that will set the ground for a more holistic
design of river management plans and restoration measures. Research excellence as well as
scientific and technological innovation is ensured as all partners have world-leading
reputations and work at the forefront of their respective discipline areas.
The PhD candidate will improve and develop methods for the analysis of microbes associated
with micropollutant degradation (Amplicon high-throughput sequencing, transcriptomics),
will identify diverse microbial catalysts associated with the transformation of micropollutants
concomitant to transformation products (HPLC-MS/MS), and link microbial communities to
transformation potentials in the hyporrheic zone. Goals are to isolate new microbes
transforming micropollutants and to identify genes of enzymes potentially participating in
micropollutant degradation as well as microbial key species indicative of high micropollutant
transformation potentials. The PhD candidate will be supervised by Marcus A. Horn (UBT)
and co-supervised by a researcher at the Stockholm University (Jon Benskin).
References: Dallinger and Horn (2014). Environ. Microbiol. 16: 84-100. --- Liu et al. (2013).
FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 86: 114-129. --- Palmer et al. (2012). ISME J. 6: 1058-1077. --- Liu et
al. (2011). ISME J. 5: 473-485. --- Zaprasis et al. (2010). Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 76: 119128.
Nr of positions available : 1
Research Fields
Environmental science - Water science
Career Stage
Early stage researcher or 0-4 yrs (Post graduate)
Research Profiles
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Benefits
The successful candidate will be employed for three years and receives a generous financial
package plus an additional mobility allowance according to the rules for Early Stage
Researchers (ESRs) in an EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training
Networks (ITN) (http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/wp/
2014_2015/main/h2020-wp1415-msca_en.pdf). He/She will have access to a set of training
activities organized within the HypoTRAIN consortium as well as to the structured PhD
programme PEER (PhD program for Ecology and Environmental Research) which is part of
the Bayreuth Graduate School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (BayNAT) of UBT.
Comment/web site for additional job details
The PhD candidate (ESR) will be employed by UBT and take part in the PhD program PEER
that educates graduate students in Ecology and Environmental Research (www.bayceer.unibayreuth.de/peer/index.php?lang=en). More than 200 scholars and scientists in 25 research
groups in the fields of Biology and Earth Sciences address environment and ecology related
topics. PEER is centered at the BayCEER, which coordinates expertise and research efforts
within the focus area. Young scientists profit from the broadly oriented information exchange
that is cultivated at BayCEER through workshops, seminars, and interdisciplinary research.
Graduate students have access in their research to an infrastructure of shared research
laboratories, workshops, and database applications. The main work place will be Bayreuth.
Planned work includes training abroad in biofilm characterization (EPFL Lausanne,
Switzerland), LC-MS techniques (EAWAG Dübendorf, Switzerland; Stockholm University,
Stockholm, Sweden), and a joint flume experiment (Stockholm University, Stockholm,
Sweden).
Applications should be sent by email to Marcus A. Horn (marcus.horn@uni-bayreuth.de).
Attachments must include:
• A motivation letter, indicating experience, expertise in relevant methods, and registered
residences of the last 3 years.
• Up to date CV, including full contact details (postal address, phone number, email address)
• Two reference letters or full contact details of two referees
• A copy of the master degree (including transcript, grades, and title+abstract of master’s
thesis) that allows for the enrolment on a doctorate degree
Questions regarding the project should be directed to Marcus A. Horn. Questions on the
application process should be sent to Karin Meinikmann (meinikmann@igb-berlin.de).
Applications will be reviewed in batches every month until the position is filled, with the final
date of submission being 15 May 2015. Envisaged starting date between 1-May-2015 and 1June-2014. An assessment committee will be appointed to review the applications and
candidates selected based on ITN-wide guidelines, which aim to ensure equal opportunities.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview either in person or by Skype.
Requirements
Required Research Experiences
Main Research FieldEnvironmental science
Sub Research Field Water science
Required Languages
Language ENGLISH
Language Level Excellent
Required Education Level
Degree FieldEnvironmental science
Additional Requirements
The main criterion for selection will be the existing skills, knowledge and research career
potential of the applicant, match with the project and fulfillment of the above mentioned
qualifications. In keeping with the UBT’s policy regarding gender equity, female candidates
are particularly encouraged to apply. Disabled persons with identical qualifications will be
favoured. UBT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It aims to ensure that no job applicant or
employee will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality,
ethnic or national origins, sex or marital status: this policy will include disabled persons who
have the necessary attributes for the post.
Eligibility criteria of ESR positions:
• Candidates may be of any nationality.
• By the time of recruitment by the host organization, candidates must not have received a
doctorate or equivalent.
• By the time of recruitment by the host organization, candidates must be in the first four
years (full-time equivalent) of their research career. Full-time research experience is measured
from the date when a researcher obtained the degree which formally entitled him or her to
embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the
country in which the researcher is recruited or seconded, irrespective of whether or not a
doctorate is or was ever envisaged.
• Because the Marie Curie schemes are designed to encourage researcher mobility, there is a
mobility criterion for recruitment: By the time of recruitment by the host organization,
researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in
Germany for more than twelve months in the last three years. Short stays, such as holidays,
are not included.
Required Education Level
DegreeMaster Degree or equivalent
Required Research Experiences
Years of Research Experience-
Additional Requirements
We are seeking candidates with a M.Sc. or equivalent or a very good first degree in
Environmental Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Environmental Sciences, Geoecology, Civil
Engineering or other closely related disciplines. Excellent English skills in speaking,
listening, reading and writing are also required. A basic knowledge of German would be
useful. For candidates with excellent German a very good level of English is sufficient.
Experiences in publishing results are advantageous.
It is desirable that candidates have experiences in some of the following fields and are willing
to familiarize themselves with the other fields:
• Next generation sequencing, Transcriptomics, Genomics
• Stable isotope probing
• Isolation and cultivation of microbes
• Chemical analytics
• Hyporheic zone research
• Statistics
• Candidates must be available to start the position at 1st June 2015 at the latest.
The main responsibilities of the PhD fellow will be:
• To manage and carry out his/her research project
• To become associated with PEER and fulfill requirements within the Graduate School at
UBT
• To participate in research and training activities within the HypoTRAIN network
• To write an expose, articles for scientific peer reviews, and their PhD thesis
• To participate in meetings of the Department of Ecological Microbiology (UBT), BayCEER
(UBT), and different HypoTRAIN consortium bodies
• To disseminate his/her research in the scientific community (international conferences) and
non-scientific community, by outreach and public engagement
GET MORE! The EURAXESS Services Centres
To better plan and organise their stay in a foreign European country, researchers and their
families can also benefit of the free and personalised assistance offered by the EURAXESS
Services Centres, a network of more than 200 centres located in 40 different European
countries.