PhD position in Aquatic Microbial Ecology at EAWAG/ETH Zürich, Switzerland
Graduate student and postdoc positions
Posted: 28 Mar, 2008
Expiration Date: 28 May, 2008
A PhD position is available in the Department of Aquatic Ecology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), ETH Zürich, Switzerland. The primary goal of the project is to analyze the functional response of alpine aquatic bacteria to changes in water source that can result from landscape transformation such as those expected from glacial retreat induced by global warming. The project will evaluate important drivers (e.g., water source chemistry, organic matter inputs) that influence aquatic bacteria abundance and composition within alpine ecosystems and examine how ecological linkages between terrestrial and aquatic alpine ecosystems, e.g. seasonal changes in water source and organic matter inputs, affect aquatic microbial composition and function. The project will also experimentally test aquatic bacterial community responses to changes in carbon and nutrients as probable stressors of alpine ecosystems.
The project will entail intensive field and experimental work in alpine floodplains in the Swiss Alps, and use state of the art genetic and analytical methods to determine bacterial diversity, function, and productivity. The project is funded for 3 years with a start date as soon as May 2008. The annual salary is around 40k CHF. The successful candidate should have experience in field (aquatic) ecology along with a background in microbial methodologies or population genetics. Applicants should send a letter of interest, CV, and addresses of 3 references to Dr Christopher T. Robinson at robinson@eawag.ch.
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