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Senior Scientist for Molecular underpinnings of microbially mediated carbon transformations (m/f/d)

A major research focus of the HIFMB is to understand the interplay between biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Marine microorganisms represent a fundamental aspect of marine life, yet insights into the molecular underpinnings that link their activities to the flow of carbon through marine ecosystems, and their susceptibility to environmental change remain incomplete.

The purpose of this position is to bring together microbiology and biogeochemistry to effectively integrate biological and biogeochemical data that stem from laboratory incubation experiments to large scale environmental sampling campaigns to connect biodiversity and ecosystem processes. We are looking for a motivated colleague, who is excited to work across disciplines and institutions. You will establish close collaborations with the Plankton Ecology and Ecosystem Data Science groups at the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) and with the Pelagic Microbiology and Marine Geochemistry groups at the Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg. By taking advantage of the data science and computational expertise at the HIFBM together with the molecular and biogeochemical surveys conducted at the ICBM, you will resolve metabolic underpinnings of microbial responses to changing marine environments based on mesocosm experiments as well as sampling of naturally occurring communities. To achieve these goals, you will develop novel molecular approaches or work with existing protocols to fine tune their application to marine systems to advance data generation and characterization capabilities at the HIFMB.

HIFMB is an institutional cooperation between the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research and the University of Oldenburg. Engagements in teaching and mentoring of BSc, MSc and PhD students at the University of Oldenburg is an important pillar of this cooperation and you are expected to actively engage in teaching and mentoring activities.

As a young institution with diverse research programs located in Northern Germany, HIFMB offers state-of-the-art computational and molecular laboratory resources, and has established a supportive and international work environment. With access to a tremendous amount of expertise in marine microbiology and biogeochemistry through Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, ICBM at the University of Oldenburg, and Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, HIFMB conducts cutting edge marine biodiversity research.

You will require computational and wet lab work as well as the organisation of mesocosm experiments and the participation in seagoing expeditions.

• Establish stable co-cultures of environmentally relevant microorganisms to study microbial metabolism in the context of dissolved organic carbon transformations
• Establish wet-lab protocols and analytical strategies to analyze the metabolic capacity of microbial populations and communities to turnover, process and transform organic carbon compounds
• Establish sampling protocols and analytical strategies for the comprehensive molecular characterization of dissolved organic matter produced and transformed by microbial communities
• Utilize the indoor mesocosm facility at the ICBM for large scale manipulation experiments to study the effect of increasing Sea Surface Temperature (SST) on microbial metabolism and carbon turnover
• Participate in seagoing expeditions to translate findings to complex natural environments utilizing a mixture of stable isotope incubation experiments and environmental sampling
• Represent HIFMB by contributing to the planning and execution of high-profile sampling expeditions such as conducted by the Tara consortium
• Establish protocols to assess the metabolic status and the adaptation mechanisms of microbial communities to environmental fluctuations and long-term changes
• Establish computational strategies to integrate metagenomic, metatranscriptomic and metaepitranscriptomic data types with environmental metabolomics and ultra-high resolution characterization of the marine “geoexometabolome”
• Any form of societal outreach activity, including writing blog posts, newspaper articles, contributions to HIFMB magazine and/or web page to explain science to lay audiences
• Any form of educational outreach activity, including preparing extensive online tutorials to describe your work, or creating publicly available teaching material to learn about microbial community dynamics and carbon cycling in the context of global change and communicate their significance with undergraduate or graduate students in mind

• PhD in microbiology, microbial ecology, biogeochemistry or other relevant fields
• Demonstrated expertise in microbiological and biogeochemical wet-lab approaches
• Track record of scientific productivity through publications in international journals
• Track record of research across disciplines of microbial ecology and biogeochemistry
• Comprehensive understanding of microbiology, microbial ecology, and biogeochemistry
• Deep understanding of microbial metabolism and its role in global biogeochemical cycles, including cycling of carbon and nitrogen
• Experience with state-of-the-art ‘omics data types and contemporary analytical strategies
• Experience with biogeochemical methods, including the utilization of heavy isotope tracers in incubation experiments and the analysis of high-resolution mass spectrometry data
• Demonstrated experience in environmental sampling for ‘omics and biogeochemical surveys, including dissolved and particulate organic carbon and dissolved organic matter
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and executing marine sampling campaigns and experience as a chief scientist of a cruise
• Experience in BSc and MSc student mentoring
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C1)
• Fluent in German (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C1)

The AWI is characterized by

• Our scientific success - excellent research
• Collaboration and cooperation - intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
• Opportunities to develop – on the job and towards other positions
• An international environment – everyday contact with people from all over the world
• Flexible working hours
• Health promotion and company fitness with Hansefit and Wellhub
• Support services and a culture of reconciling work and family
• Occupational pension provision (VBL)

We strongly encourage qualified women to apply for the advertised position at AWI to reduce the underrepresentation of women.

Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.

AWI fosters work-family compatibility in various ways. As a new international member of our team, you can be sure that we will help you settle in. Our Family Office and International Office will be glad to support you, even before you start at AWI.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over €5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.