Doctoral student in Biology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Project description

The oxygen level in the ocean is expected to decrease by 3-4% during the next century and the prevailing explanation for decreasing oxygen levels is eutrophication. Despite several efforts to reduce the transport of nutrients to coastal areas, hypoxia is still increasing in for example the Baltic sea. One explanation might be the increasing transport of terrestrial dissolved organic matter containing organic nitrogen and phosphorous which can cause eutrophication. However, the primary component of organic matter is carbon. The bioavailable fraction of the carbon will be utilized by bacteria in the coastal areas and, in the Baltic sea, this utilization has been estimated to consume 1 million tons oxygen per year. Hitherto, there is little knowledge on what controls reactivity of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and even less is known about efficient management efforts to reduce the transport into the ocean. 

Work duties

The aim of this project is to 1) compare the relative importance of environmental factors for bioavailability of carbon in Baltic sea river catchments, 2) study how bioavailability is affected by increasing terrestrial DOC concentrations and if the effect differs among rivers with different catchment areas and  3) evaluate how to most efficiently reduce DOC concentration and bioavailable carbon using constructed wetlands. These results are crucial to determine where and how to focus measures to reduce the transport of DOC and to take urgent action in climate mitigation. 

The useful candidate will have the opportunity to learn a variety of laboratory-based methods, for example measuring respiration, bacterial production, spectroscopy (absorbance and fluorescence), mass spectrometry, PCR and construction of libraries for illumina sequencing as well as analyzing sequencing data. This PhD position will provide opportunities to develop independent, critical thinking and acquire the skills necessary for conducting scientific projects. In addition, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence the research according to his/her own area of expertise.  

Requirements

• MSc degree in Biology, biogeochemistry, environmental science, or equivalent fields, preferably with a focus on aquatic ecology.
• Basic knowledge about biogeochemical processes in aquatic environments 
• Practical experience of working in a lab
• Very good oral and written English 
• Demonstrated good collaborative skills, good organizational skills and ability to work independently 

Meriting

• Experience of measuring bacterial production and respiration
• Experience of molecular techniques (e.g. DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, illumina sequencing)
• Experience of characterization of carbon compounds using spectroscopy absorbance/fluorescence and/or mass spectrometry
• Experience of analyzing nutrients (DOC, nitrogen and phosphorous)
• Experience and field work and mesocosm experiment 
• Good skills in data handling and statistical analyses in R 

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

• Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study
• An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems
• Written and oral communication skills
• Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment

Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§. Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

The application should include

• A personal letter stating your motivation for conducting a PhD and your interest in this specific project (max. 2 pages)
• CV, including education and earlier employments (max. 2 pages)
• Copies of degrees and transcripts of academic records (BSc and MSc)
• Title and summary of master thesis
• Contact information (phone, email) of at least two references