Research Assistant in Soil Microbiology/Ecology

WSL - Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research; Birmensdorf (ZH); On-site; CHF 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

WSL - Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research in Birmensdorf, Switzerland, seeks a Research Assistant in Soil Microbiology/Ecology to support projects on soil biodiversity and functions. You will work mainly in molecular biology and biogeochemistry labs, performing DNA extractions, preparing eDNA metabarcoding libraries, and measuring soil properties.

The ideal candidate has recently completed a bachelor’s or master’s in biology or environmental sciences with a

Qualifications

• Recently completed bachelor’s or master’s degree in biology or environmental sciences with a background in microbiology and/or ecology.
• Basic skills in molecular biology and practical laboratory experience.
• Experience with biodiversity data analyses (metabarcoding) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• DNA extraction from environmental samples.
• Prepare eDNA metabarcoding libraries.
• Quantify microbial biomass and functional genes.
• Measure soil physicochemical parameters.

Skills

Molecular biology

English fluency

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biology or Environmental Sciences

Job description

Research Assistant in Soil Microbiology/Ecology

WSL - Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research

Birmensdorf, Switzerland

On-site

You will participate in research projects focusing on soil biodiversity and functions. You will mainly work in the molecular biology and biogeochemistry labs. Your tasks will include extracting DNA from environmental samples, preparing eDNA metabarcoding libraries, and quantifying microbial biomass and functional genes, as well as measuring soil physicochemical parameters.

You have recently completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in biology or environmental sciences, with a background in microbiology and/or ecology. You have basic skills in molecular biology, including some practical experience in the laboratory. Experience with the analyses of biodiversity data, such as metabarcoding sequences, is a plus. You are fluent in English and have excellent communication skills and a high level of team spirit.