SCIENCE-JOBS-DE

Microbial catalysts associated with organic micropollutant degradation (Bayreuth)

The University of Bayreuth is offering a fully funded PhD position
within the EU-funded Innovative Training Network (ITN)
HypoTRAIN. Exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment
[Living Allowance = 37.320 euro/year (correction factor to be
applied per country) + Monthly mobility allowance =
600 to 1100 euro depending on the family situation].

We are seeking candidates with a M.Sc. or equivalent or a very
good first degree in Microbiology, 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.

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. 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). The
PhD candidate will be supervised by Marcus A. Horn (UBT) and
co-supervised by a researcher at the Stockholm University (Jon
Benskin).

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.

For more Information please refere to http://www.hypotrain.eu and http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/index.cfm/jobs/jobDetails/33981494.

Questions regarding the project should be directed to Marcus A. Horn (marcus.horn@uni-bayreuth.de).

Applications should be sent by email to Marcus A. Horn
(marcus.horn@uni-bayreuth.de) quoting "HypoTRAIN_8" as
subject. 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.
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 1-June-
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.

PD Dr. Marcus A. Horn
Department of Ecological Microbiology
University of Bayreuth
D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany

Tel. +49-921-555-620
Email: marcus.horn@uni-bayreuth.de