At the University of Greifswald’s Institute of Microbiology, working group "Coastal Microbiomes", in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, there is a job vacancy subject to the allocation of funds, expected to be available from 1 April 2025, for a part-time position (65 %) as
Research Assistant.
The position is limited to a period of 45 months. Payment will be made in accordance with pay group 13 TV-L Wissenschaft.
We are seeking highly motivated candidates for the newly established Collaborative Research Centre “WETSCAPES2.0,” funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). WETSCAPES2.0 combines the expertise from the University of Greifswald, the University of Rostock, the IGB Berlin, the GFZ Potsdam, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, the MPI for Biogeochemistry Jena, and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. WETSCAPES2.0 focuses on the functional understanding of rewetted fens, including coastal peatlands, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The rewetting of previously drained and often agriculturally used fens is leading to the development of novel ecosystems that differ from natural peatlands and are largely unexplored. The planned monitoring, experimental and modelling research will focus on biogeochemical, hydrological and biological processes, placing emphasis on water and matter fluxes within and beyond the peat body and their associated microbiological and biological drivers. In addition to site-level studies, researchers will investigate the role of rewetted fens in the landscape on the whole.
The position on offer is located within the subproject "Lateral connectivity and spatial variability of fen microbiomes". In this project, we will investigate how fen peatland microbiomes vary on regional and landscape scales and how this variation can be used to predict ecosystem function. On a local scale, we will concentrate on shallow water bodies, a distinct feature of rewetted fens and a hotspot of methane emissions, and investigate the role of aquatic macrophytes and their microbiomes for carbon and nutrient cycling during extreme conditions of flooding and drought. The methodological approach includes molecular methods (SSU rRNA amplicon sequencing), mesocosm experimentation and fieldwork.
Tasks:
- Prepare and perform sampling of peat, water and aquatic macrophyte microbiomes as well as contextual parameters in the field and during mesocosm experiments.
- Perform microbiome analysis on these samples using SSU rRNA amplicon sequencing.
- Process and analyse the resulting data using bioinformatic and statistical tools.
- Draft manuscripts and collaboratively publish the results in international peer-reviewed journals.
- The position offers the opportunity to continue academic qualification; tasks are assigned that are conducive to the preparation of a doctorate.
Required:
- Completed MSc-degree (or equivalent) in biological sciences
- Experience in ecological field or laboratory work
- Experience in analysis of complex datasets
- Excellent teamwork and communication skills
Desired:
- Experience in molecular biology lab techniques
- Experience in the statistical language R
- Excellent English language skills
- Driving license (class B)
This vacancy is open to all persons, irrespective of gender. Severely disabled applicants with the same qualifications will be considered with preference.
In accordance with § 68(3) PersVG M-V, the Staff Council will only be involved in staff matters of the academic or artistic staff on request.
Unfortunately, application costs (e.g. travel expenses for interviews) will not be reimbursed by the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Please note that by submitting your application, you provide your consent pursuant to data protection law for our processing of your application data. Further information about the legal bases and the use of your data can be found here.
Applications comprising all usual documents must be sent with reference to the job advertisement number 24/Wi45 by 15 January 2025, preferably via email (one PDF file), to:
Universität Greifswald
Institut für Mikrobiologie
Frau Dr. Mia Bengtsson
Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 8
17489 Greifswald
mia.bengtsson@uni-greifswald.de