PhD student in Molecular Microbial Ecology (m/f)

Understanding and predicting climatevariability is a major scientific challenge, particularly with regardto climate-induced environmental change and its impact on humansociety. Models to predict the climate are complex, and based in parton what we know of past climate variability, both from the recentinstrumental and historical records as well as from geological climatearchives such as lacustrine and marine sediments, speleothems, and treerings. However, the study of palaeoclimates is limited in part by ourability to accurately determine temperature variability, especially forthe continental climate. Unfortunately, many of the available bioticand abiotic temperature proxies are also affected by precipitationrate, evaporation rate, atmospheric CO2 concentrations and changes insource composition. In this project we will develop proxies for surfacetemperature of lakes based on (I) fossilized crenarchaeotal membranelipids and (II) the fossils of chironomids and cladocera and the stablecarbon and oxygen isotope composition of their chitin. These proxieswill be validated with appropriate field and laboratory studies. Sinceessentially nothing is known on the ecology of pelagic freshwatercrenarchaeota, this will be studied by appropriate molecular methods.These results will guide the interpretation of the crenarchaeotaltemperature proxy. The temperature proxies will be compared toinstrumental measurements for the past 150 years using varved sedimentsand will be compared to each other for records going back to the lastGlacial.

In the microbial part of the project the ecology of mesophiliccrenarchaeota in lakes will be addressed. Molecular methods (mainlybased on 16S rDNA, DGGE and FISH) will be applied to investigate theseasonal cycle in the abundance of crenarchaeota, their distribution inthe water column and their nutrient requirements. For this purposecrenarchaea have to be enriched and when possible isolated in purecultures.

Required education/skills:We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic candidate with a MSc inBiology or Environmental Sciences. Preferable with expertise in thefollowing fields: microbiology, and molecular biology. The candidate isexpected to be proficient in spoken and written English and to havegood communicative skills.

Job type(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers

Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences The Centre for Limnology of the NIOO and the Darwin Centre for Biogeology

The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) isan institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences(KNAW) that focuses on fundamental, strategic research into individualorganisms, populations, ecological communities and ecosystems. Morethan 240 staff are employed at three centres as well as the head office.

The Centre for Limnology (CL) in Nieuwersluisfocuses its research on freshwater ecology. The Centre for Marine andEstuarine Ecology (CEME) in Yerseke deals with ecosystems in brackishand salt water and emphasis at the Centre for Terrestrial Ecology (CTE)in Heteren is put on land-based ecology.

The Centre for Limnology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-CL)and the Darwin Centre for Biogeology are looking for a PhD student inMolecular Microbial Ecology for a recently funded project entitled"Validation and Palaeotemperature proxies in lacustrine systems"awarded to Prof. dr. J.S. Sinninghe Damsté (UU), Prof. dr. H.J.Laanbroek (NIOO-KNAW) and Prof. dr. A.F. Lotter (UU). The project willstart in September 2005.

The Darwin Center for Biogeology is a virtual research institute in theNetherlands which aims at performing cutting-edge science in thecentral field of Biogeology where Biology and Earth Sciences meet. Thesix participating institutions are: Utrecht University (UU),Netherlands Institute for Ecology, Radboud University Nijmegen, RoyalDutch Institute for Sea Research, Free University Amsterdam, WageningenUniversity and Research. Its research mission is to understand thefunctioning of global, regional and local ecosystems, focusing onchange and feedback at all time scales in and between biotic andabiotic components of a changing Earth.

Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2000 - 2500

Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2283
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years
Maximum hours per week: 38

Additional conditions of employment:
Salary will be according to the Collective Agreement for DutchUniversities (CAO-Nederlandse Universiteiten). The maximum grossmonthly salary coming with a full-time appointment will amount to €1.813,– per month in the first year and increase to € 2.283,– permonth in the fourth year, excluding 8% holiday pay and year-end bonus.We offer an extensive package of fringe benefits.

Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Prof.dr. H.J. Laanbroek, Director
Telephone number: 0031-(0)294-239 336
E-mail address: r.laanbroek@nioo.knaw.nl

 
Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links.

You can apply for this job before 20-06-2005 by sending your application to:

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AT 2530.

Source: PhD student in Molecular Microbial Ecology