Doctoral student in Biology with a specialisation in Microbial Ecology

Lunds Universitet; Lunds kommun; On-site; SEK 357,120 - 468,720; Full time

Job summary

Lund University invites applications for a doctoral student in Biology with a specialization in Microbial Ecology. The project aims to understand how soil microbial communities adapt to drought, using isotope tracing, controlled experiments, and field studies to link microbial traits with ecosystem processes.

You will be admitted as a student and employed at Lund University, trained to think critically, lead independent research toward a doctoral thesis, present at national and international

Qualifications

• MSc or equivalent in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or related field.
• Excellent oral and written proficiency in English.
• Documented ability to conduct independent work.

Responsibilities

• Pursue doctoral education and conduct independent research toward a thesis.
• Develop expertise in determining microbial growth using isotope tracing techniques.
• Present findings at group seminars and national/international conferences.
• Up to 20% of time may be devoted to teaching responsibilities.

Skills

Excellent English

Education

MSc or equivalent in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science

Tools

Isotope tracing methods

Job description

Doctoral student in Biology with a specialisation in Microbial Ecology

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 46 000 students and 8 500 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Description of the workplace

You will work within the Microbial Biogeochemistry in Lund (MBLU) environment, hosted at the department of Biology, at Lund University (Microbial Biogeochemistry in Lund ), supervised by Professor Johannes Rousk and senior researcher Dr. Lettice Hicks. MBLU is a research environment that studies terrestrial ecosystems to better understand how soil microorganisms regulate global biogeochemistry which can be used to predict responses to environmental changes. We are a group of microbial ecologists, ecosystem ecologists, biogeochemists, and modellers, who have a shared vision, and combine empirical and modelling approaches to accomplish this. Our research focuses on the study of soil carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems around the globe; from arctic tundra to tropical rainforests and semiarid grasslands. We are specifically interested in aspects influencing the spatial and temporal variability in microbial community function and structure, and their responses to stress, with special emphasis on environmental factors such as soil moisture, temperature, limiting nutrients, salinity and pH, and anthropogenic factors such as tillage, fertilization and metal contamination. We study the microbial control and environmental dependence of ecosystem functions using field and laboratory experiments, and then incorporate validated ecological insights into models operating at different scales.

Being a doctoral student

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University. You will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

We are looking for a doctoral student whose mission it will be to investigate whether and how soil microbial communities can adapt their traits to enhance their performance during drought and after drought ends. Specifically, the doctoral student will determine how microbial resilience and resistance to drought can arise, along with its ecological, physiological, and/or evolutionary underpinnings. This work will combine controlled laboratory experiments, greenhouse pot experiments, and field experiments to advance our understanding of how microbial ecology can drive ecosystem biogeochemistry. It will be possible to include ongoing investigations where field experiments have been used to simulate ecosystem drought in arctic and terrestrial environments. Key performance metrics will include estimates of microbial growth occurring in intact soils samples, through the use of radio‑and stable‑isotope tracing methods, but also estimates of biogeochemical processes including C and nutrient cycling.

The project will provide an advanced education in soil microbial ecology and biogeochemistry, and will be laboratory‑intensive with opportunities to conduct fieldwork. The project is suitable for candidates with a background and interest in soil microbial ecology, ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry.

Your primary responsibility will be to pursue your doctoral education, which mainly consists of conducting independent research leading to a doctoral thesis.

During your PhD studies, you will develop expertise in determining microbial growth rates in intact soil samples using isotope tracing techniques (stable and radioisotopes) to quantify isotope incorporation into specific biomarkers. By measuring microbial growth across environmental gradients (e.g. soil moisture), you will investigate microbial functional trait distributions and describe these using mathematical functions that can be incorporated into ecosystem process models.

To address these research questions, you will have the opportunity to combine field experiments (e.g. rainfall exclusion treatments), greenhouse experiments, and laboratory microcosm studies. A substantial part of the project involves laboratory‑based analytical work. You will analyse large biological datasets generated from these experimental systems using advanced analytical approaches and communicate your findings through publications in international peer‑reviewed journals.

You are expected to actively participate in ongoing research projects within the research group while planning and conducting independent research on how microbial processes are influenced by water availability and how soil microorganisms adapt to drought. As part of your doctoral training, you will present your research at group seminars as well as at national and international scientific conferences.

The doctoral education also includes mandatory and elective PhD courses that will support your development as an independent researcher and strengthen your skills in formulating, communicating, and critically evaluating scientific questions.

In addition to your doctoral studies, up to 20% of your working time may be devoted to departmental duties, primarily teaching. Depending on your qualifications and experience, teaching responsibilities may include undergraduate courses in Biology as well as more advanced courses in Soil and Plant Ecology.

Qualifications

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third‑cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant:

• has been awarded a second‑cycle qualification,
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle,
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Microbial ecology if the applicant has:

• completed an independent work (e.g. degree project) in a relevant subject comprising at least 30 higher education credits.

The special qualification may also have been obtained through other equivalent education, which is assessed on a case‑by‑case basis. In order to enable interdisciplinary initiatives and significant in‑depth studies in certain areas, qualifications other than the applicant’s subject‑specific competence in Microbial ecology may be taken into account.

Additional requirements

• An advanced university degree (MSc or equivalent competence) in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Physical Geography, Soil Science, Biogeochemistry, or a closely related area.
• Excellent oral and written proficiency in English.
• Documented research experience (e.g. master thesis or equivalent) preferably related to the project.
• Documented ability to conduct independent work.
• Practical experience of conducting laboratory work, preferably with methods related to the project.

Selection criteria

• Experience in using isotope‑based methods
• Experience in planning and conducting field‑work
• Experience in data handling and statistical analysis

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. It is advisable to enter information on what your unit specifically can offer as a workplace.

About the employment

The employment is a fixed‑term employment at full time, starting according to agreement. Third cycle studies at Faculty of Science consist of full‑time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1‑7 §§.