Postdoctoral Fellowship in Peatland Microbial Ecology and Methane Dynamics

We are looking for a motivated postdoc to study microbial methane cycling in northern wetlands using   modern molecular tools. 

A post-doctoral Fellowship in peatland microbial ecology is available at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Umeå, Sweden. The department includes 100 people of which about 10 are professors. Our mission is to advance the understanding of forest ecosystem processes and to progress the principles of forest ecosystem management. For more information: http://www.slu.se/en/departments/forest-ecology-management/. The fellowships are funded by the Kempe foundations and the research conducted is a part of a larger project funded by both the Swedish EPA and the Swedish Research Council Formas.

Peatland Microbial Ecology and methane dynamics: The postdoctoral researcher will study the microbiology of methane cycling in an interdisciplinary team of researchers and students with complementary expertise and interests in methane biogeochemistry and environmental genomics. The postdoc will collaborate closely with the Uppsala-based research group in Functional Microbial Ecology led by Professor Stefan Bertilsson (https://www.slu.se/en/ew-cv/stefan-bertilsson/). Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, and wetlands are the main natural source of atmospheric methane. In many regions of the world, large areas of wetlands have been drained for agriculture or forestry purposes. During recent decades, wetland restoration has become a prioritized environmental protection action in many European countries. A century or more of drained conditions has drastically changed the soil properties in relation to natural wetlands and thus the potential for various biogeochemical processes. The broader aims of the project are to identify properties of rewetted wetlands that are critical for methane production and methane oxidation and compare these with the situation in natural, undisturbed wetlands. Understanding these biological systems will be fundamental to developing strategies for minimizing emissions of the greenhouse gas methane following wetland restoration. The use of cultivation-independent molecular methods targeting both DNA and RNA will be a cornerstone in the project and also be used to target other biogeochemical processes, such as microbial mercury methylation.

Qualifications and Requirements: Successful candidates will have a PhD in microbial ecology, environmental microbiology or closely related fields, preferably with a focus on microbial communities and processes in anaerobic environments. The degree should not be more than three years old. Bioinformatic and laboratory skills in processing and analyzing DNA and RNA will strengthen your application. We require that candidates have documented capabilities for independent research as well as the writing of scientific publications and reports in English. In addition, the postdoctoral researchers are expected to participate in other ongoing research projects within the collaborating research groups. A willingness and interest to develop research-funding possibilities within the research groups is encouraged. Good command of the English language, both written and spoken, is required. A driving license is desirable. 

How to apply: Your application should contain: (1) a cover letter with a summary of your research accomplishments and how you could contribute to the research project (maximum 2 pages), (2) a Curriculum Vitae, (3) a publication list, and (4) names and contact details of 2-3 personal references. The application should be submitted electronically to mats.oquist@slu.se  All documents submitted should be in MS Word or PDF format. We will begin screening applications May 30 but applications are welcome until the position has been filled.

Application deadline: Open until filled
Start date: Flexible
Location: Umeå, Sweden