Post doctoral fellow in soil microbiology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Subject description
Physiological and spectroscopic studies of the decomposition and mobilization of nitrogen from soil protein-lignin complexes by ectomycorrhizal fungi.

Work duties
The aim of this project is to investigate how ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi decompose protein-lignin complexes and acquire organic nitrogen from these complexes in boreal forest soils. The availability of nitrogen commonly limits tree growth in boreal forests. Most nitrogen in boreal forest soils occurs in the form of proteins, which form stable complexes with lignin. To gain access to this form of nitrogen, boreal trees have developed symbiotic associations with fungi at least 80 times over the course of evolution. Thus, many ECM fungi have evolved from different saprotrophic ancestors and are therefore expected to have different capacities to decompose protein-lignin complexes. In this project, you will develop microcosm experiments in which pine seedlings and selected ECM fungi will be grown symbiotically. The ability of the different ECM fungi to decompose protein-lignin complexes will be studied using novel spectromicroscopic methods, while the mobilization of nitrogen will be followed using stable 15N isotope labelled proteins.

You will be a member of Professors Per Persson´s, Anders Tunlid´s and dr. Michiel Op De Beeck’s group. We are an interdisciplinary research team of scientists from molecular geochemistry, microbial ecology and evolution, molecular biology, physical chemistry and computational biology. The environment will provide the candidate with ample possibilities to learn novel skills and methods. For further information, please visit our webpages:

Per Persson, professor 

Anders Tunlid, professor

Michiel- Op de Beeck, professor

Qualification requirements
Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position, completed no more than three years before the date of employment decision. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

For this position, the qualified applicant must have a doctorate within the field of soil microbiology, microbial ecology, geomicrobiology, fungal biology, or related disciplines.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in english

Assessment criteria and other qualifications
This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers.

Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research
• Teaching skills

Additional assessment criteria:
Strong drive towards research publications. Excellent communication skills to allow for presentation to specialists as well as to scientists outside the area of research.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment
This is a full time, fixed term employment of 2 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S and OFR/S, dated 1st February 2022.

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English and be compiled into a PDF-file containing:

• Résumé/CV, including a list of publications
• A general description of past research and future research interests (no more than three pages)
• Contact information of at least two references
• Copy of the doctoral degree certificate