The research group “Organic Geochemistry" of the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel invites applications for a
Postdoctoral researcher in the field of
organic geochemistry and soil microbiology (
https://duw.unibas.ch/en/research-groups/organic-geochemistry/). The researcher will be part of a project developing and applying hydrogen isotope ratios of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) as indicators of soil microbial metabolism, and integrating this proxy with multi 'omic tools (metabolomics, metatranscriptomics, metagenomics). Research is planned in collaboration with scientists from the University of Bern and the University of Arizona, USA.
Soil is a critical storage pool for carbon in Earth's surface. How carbon cycling will change in soils as a result of anthropogenic climate forcing remains unclear, in part because of limited mechanistic understanding of how microbial metabolism and diversity combine to affect carbon portioning between microbial biomass and respiration (known as carbon use efficiency or CUE). In central Europe, increased drought frequency and intensity is likely to impact carbon cycling and CUE in soils in the near future, due to changes in the availability of organic matter as moisture content decreases, and to changes in the composition of organic matter input from plants. To improve our process-based understanding of how carbon cycling will change in the soils of central European forests under drought, the SNSF funded project “Drought Impacts on soil microbial metabolism in European foRests (DRIER)" will develop and apply a novel tool to quantify changes in the central carbon metabolism of soil microbial communities. Within the context of this larger project, the postdoctoral researcher will test the suitability of compound-specific hydrogen isotope measurements of PLFAs as a proxy for net soil microbial metabolism. They will conduct a series of increasingly complex laboratory experiments beginning with simple co-cultures inoculated with two model bacterial species and progressing to mesocosms of natural microbiomes from local forest soils, from which they will integrate compound-specific isotopic data with metabolomic, metatranscriptomic, and metagenomic analyses.
We are looking for a researcher with a doctoral degree in organic geochemistry, soil biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, microbiology, or a related discipline. Candidates should have significant experience with
compound specific stable isotopes OR with multi 'omic datasets. The ability to work both independently and within a team, as well as good communication skills including
fluency in English are essential.
The postdoctoral researcher will be part of a research team funded by a Swiss National Science Foundation Starting grant to Prof. Dr. Nemiah Ladd. The contract will initially be for a period of one year, with a two-year extension (three years total) based on performance. We offer an international, multidisciplinary work environment and excellent research infrastructure. Compensation is according to the guidelines of the Swiss National Science Foundation (
www.snf.ch) and the postdoctoral researcher will be employed full time (100 %).
Application / Contact Please submit your complete application documents, including (i) a letter stating your research interests and motivation for applying for the position, your experience and skills (maximum length of 2 pages), (ii) a CV including a publication list, (iii) contact details of three references, and (iv) transcripts and diplomas of your masters and doctoral degrees (if available) via our online recruiting platform.
Only online applications submitted through the recruiting platform will be considered.
For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Nemiah Ladd (
n.ladd@unibas.ch). Review of applications will begin 15 September 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.