Ph.d.-position in Microbiology: Bacteria in Clouds
he University of Aarhus, Denmark, offers a three year Ph.D. position in Microbiology with start 1.9.2008. The project will investigate the microbial diversity and functioning of microbes in cloud droplets. Until recently, the atmosphere has only been considered a transfer medium of microbes from one habitat to another. Previous studies have thus focused on the presence of microbes in air or on microbes associated with dust particles. However, only very recently clouds have attracted attention as potential environments, where microbes can be concentrated or where microbes can even proliferate. In addition, a completely new research discipline, bio-meteorology, has discovered the important role of bacteria in cloud formation, serving as ice nuclei. These new insights have led to the exciting scientific hypothesis that certain airborne bacteria may create their own environment by causing cloud formation, and that airborne bacteria may even undergo selection for their ability to serve in cloud formation.
In this project a small aircraft will be used to directly sample from within and around clouds. The sampled material will then be used for both direct cultivation of microbes and enumeration of living and dead cells. In addition, molecular investigations will be carried out addressing the diversity of the microbial community in general. The state of activity of the community members will be determined by the use of RT-PCR targeting mRNA associated with specific processes, such as ammonium and methane oxidation and ice nucleation.
The Ph.D. project will take place at the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI) in Roskilde (Sealand, Denmark) and the University of Aarhus (AU) in the City of Aarhus (Jutland, Denmark) under the supervision of senior researcher Ulrich Bay Gosewinkel (NERI) and assoc. prof. Kai Finster (AU). Active collaboration with leading European research labs will be an additional aspect of this project.
Applicants should have a M.Sc. or equivalent in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biometeorology or related fields.
According to Danish regulations, the Ph.D. student will receive a 36-month salary that corresponds to a full Ph.D. student position with full benefits (gross starting salary approx 40000 € per year, increased with previous professional experience).
Contact :
Ulrich Bay Gosewinkel: uka@dmu.dk, Tel. +45-4630 1387
Kai Finster: Kai.Finster@biology.au.dk, Tel.+45-8942 3241
http://aerobactics.dmu.dk/
