The Department of Biology and Environmental Science is part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University. The research activities within this multidisciplinary school include the areas of Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Organic Chemistry, Marine Ecology and Microbiology. The marine microbiology research group in Kalmar seeks a project assistant for studies of the photoheterotrophy in marine bacteria.

The research project

Marine bacteria play a central role in driving global biogeochemical cycles of elements essential to life (e.g. carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous), but detailed knowledge of how bacteria carry out specific steps in element cycling is lacking. This project will investigate the molecular mechanisms employed by marine bacteria carrying out proteorhodopsin-mediated photoheterotrophy in an experimental context of natural mixed microbial communities (e.g. mesocosm experiment). Work includes carrying out laboratory experiments with natural bacterial assemblages in seawater cultures under different nutrient and light conditions. Analysis approaches include state-of-the-art experimental methods in marine microbial ecology, along with bioinformatics analyses of gene expression profiling of bacterioplankton in relation to environmental conditions.

Qualification requirements

• Applicants should have a minimum of an advanced level undergraduate degree (240hp/240ECTS) degree in biology, ecology or microbial ecology.
• Applicants should have documented expertise in performing mesocosm or microcosm experiments with natural mixed bacterial assemblages, and experience in carrying out analyses of microbial abundance, and bacterial production and respiration along with sampling for dissolved organic matter.
• Applicants should also have expertise in using bioinformatics pipelines for statistical analyses of gene expression of marine bacteria.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English is required.

Other assessment grounds that would place the candidate at an advantage include experience with working with marine bacterial isolates and culturing axenic phytoplankton, and the ability to work independently to solve problems as well as interact well in a research group.

Terms of Employment
Full time for 6 months. The employment is scheduled to start July 1^st 2018.

For further information
Please contact Professor Jarone Pinhassi, jarone.pinhassi@lnu.se or Head of Department Per-Eric Betzholtz, +46-480- 446249 (per-eric.betzholtz@lnu.se) or HR partner Christian Andersson (christian.andersson@lnu.se) +46-470- 708506.