We investigate host-microbe-environment interactions in diverse habitats. This project will focus on the symbiosis between marine lucinid clams and their intracellular chemosynthetic symbionts, which are found in seagrass meadows throughout the world. The candidate will join the recently-funded ‘BIOcean5D: Marine Biodiversity Assessment and Prediction Across Spatial, Temporal and Human Scales’, an exciting international and multidisciplinary project funded by the European Union. You will also have the opportunity to be involved in the EMBL-TREC (‘Traversing European Coastlines’; https://www.embl.org/about/info/trec/) expedition, an ambitious program for exploration of biodiversity along Europe’s coastlines from land to sea.
Within this program, we will focus on natural populations of two subspecies of lucinid clams (currently both called Loripes orbiculatus). We previously hypothesized that these two subspecies colonize distinct environments in the Mediterranean Sea, associated with different seagrass species. Our goal is to investigate specificity in host-microbe interactions in these two subspecies, using genomic and experimental approaches, and to understand how the symbiosis may influence adaptation to distinct environments. There is some scope for flexibility in the project design.
The ideal candidate should be a team player with demonstrated achievements in scientific research (publication), and have experience in some or all of the following:
- Microbiology
- Genomics, population genomics, bioinformatics
- Symbiosis research
- Marine fieldwork
To apply, send a single pdf file containing a letter of motivation outlining how you fulfill the selection criteria, and your CV including a publication list and contact details of at least two references. Please also include one of your publications along with a brief statement (no more than ½ page) explaining the significance of this publication for the field. Submit your application via email (jillian.petersen@univie.ac.at) as soon as possible, but no later than September 16th, 2022. Assessment of applications will begin immediately.
The lab aims to be an open, inclusive environment where you can excel during some of the most exciting years of your scientific career. DOME currently hosts 11 research groups focusing on diverse aspects of microbial ecology. We have well-equipped labs and are an international hot-spot for development of new technologies to investigate the function of microbes in their natural habitats. You will be part of an active and supportive community of more than 100 microbial ecologists at a range of career stages.
Vienna has been consistently voted one of the world’s most livable cities. It is an international city with world-class public transport and rich cultural offerings, surrounded by forests perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking or rock-climbing. Salaries for postdoctoral researchers are highly competitive and include full health insurance. Living costs are very reasonable for a big European city.