The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year PhD–position within microbial ecology and environmental microbiology. The successful candidate will be anchored in the research group Microbial Ecology and Physiology, MEP

The NMBU-Nitrogen Group has about 25 members coming from several countries. We are at the international forefront within studies of microbial N-transformations in natural and engineered systems with projects ranging from basic to applied research and from laboratory- to field scale investigations. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to a more sustainable food production and to reduce climate gas emissions from agriculture and industry.

The PhD position is connected to a newly started research project called “STARVOX – Revealing effects of starvation and oxidative stress on denitrifying bacteria: a basis for novel N2O mitigation and industrial applications”, financed by the Research Council of Norway within the program “Groundbreaking research”.  The tentative start date is 15th August, but earlier dates are possible (also in June).

Short background: The last reports from IPCC (the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) describe steadily increasing emission of N2O, a potent greenhouse gas and in addition the main destructor of the stratospheric ozone. Denitrifying bacteria are responsible for the main part of the global N2O emissions from soils. Many denitrifying bacteria capable of both producing and consuming N2O, and the amounts that are emitted depend on their regulatory biology.

Although much is known about this regulation, the current knowledge is mostly based on laboratory studies of organisms growing under optimal conditions. Surprisingly little is known about the regulation of denitrification in bacteria living under natural conditions, where they starve most of the time and are exposed to fluctuating oxygen concentrations that may harm the enzymes.In the STARVOX project we dive deeper into how these stresses affect denitrifying organisms and their production of N2O. The ultimate aim of STARVOX is to understand the regulation of denitrification in natural environments and to strengthen ongoing attempts to bio-engineer soil communities to reduce the emissions of N2O. The results will also feed into ongoing projects using denitrifying bacteria for single cell protein production, where fluctuating substrate- and oxygen levels are a challenge.

STARVOX encompasses a team with several researchers on PhD, post doc and senior researcher levels, working on all scales spanning detailed enzyme studies, physiological analyses of bacterial isolates, and meta-omics based analyses of complex microbial communities in soil. The PhD fellow advertised for here will in particular study how starvation (lack of carbon and energy sources) affects microbial metabolism, with a focus on denitrification and N2O emissions, but investigations of the effects of oxidative stress may also be included. The results will add new, basic knowledge to our understanding of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle and will strengthen our ongoing development of novel methods for N2O mitigation. The PhD candidate will work in a stimulating research environment and collaborate with several PhD students and post-doctoral researchers working on STARVOX and adjacent projects.

Main tasks

Main tasks of this PhD project include:

• Analyses of the gas kinetics and transcriptional regulation of denitrifying bacteria (pure cultures and complex soil communities)
• Quantification of the cellular abundance of denitrification reductases (proteomics)
• Analyses of cell morphology in starved vs well-fed cultures (confocal microscopy) and their content of storage material (PHB) using gas chromatography
• Genomics/bioinformatics and possibly meta-omics analyses

The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.

Competence

The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are at master’s degree level. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description. The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject (microbiology).

Required Academic qualifications

• The successful applicant must hold (or expect to complete within July 2022) a master’s degree within the field of biosciences. An average grade of B (or equivalent) is required from the MSc courses, which is also the minimum requirement for the Master thesis.

The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:

• Microbiology skills
• Molecular techniques
• Proteomics
• Bioinformatics
• Enzyme kinetics

Other desired skills and knowledge:

• Knowledge on biogeochemistry, particularly the N-cycle
• Experience with R and/or Python

You need to:

• Be accurate and patient with experimental work
• Have strong communication skills, both written and oral English
• Have analytical skills
• Have interest and ability to collaborate closely with supervisors and partners
• Be able to work independently but also be an inspiring and positive team member
• Show flexibility, robustness and staying power

Remuneration and further information

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017. PhD fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 491 200,-) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.

Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.

For further information, please contact Professor Åsa Frostegård (asa.frostegard@nmbu.no; +4767232473)

Information for PhD applicants and general Information to applicants

Application

To apply online for these vacancies, please click on the ‘Apply for this job’ button above. This will route you to the University’s Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form. Please send only one application, you will automatically be considered for both positions!

Application deadline: 22.04.2022

Applications should include (electronically) a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, full publication list, copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all certified), and a list of two persons who may act as references (with phone numbers and e-mail addresses).

Publications should be included electronically within the application deadline. The relevant NMBU Department may require further documentation, e.g. proof of English proficiency.

Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail to Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 22.04.2022. Please quote reference number 22/01404.

If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.

About The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science

The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) employs about 160 people. Currently about 50 PhD students are enrolled into our PhD program. KBM represents a broad range of scientific fields encompassing basic natural sciences such as microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry as well as the application of these towards food chemistry, technology and safety, biotechnology, bioprocessing and environmental issues. The Faculty is responsible for education, research and information within our fields of expertise and also has state-of-the-art instrumentation to perform research within these fields. KBM collaborates in networks and research projects both nationally and internationally. 

Further information: https://www.nmbu.no/en/faculty/kbm 

The Norwegian University of Life Sciences

NMBU has a particular responsibility for research and education that secures the basis for the life of future generations. Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we deliver knowledge for life. NMBU has 1,900 employees of which about 300 phd scholarships and 6,700 students. The university is divided into seven faculties.

NMBU believes that a good working environment is characterised by diversity.

We encourage qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender, functional ability, cultural background or whether you have been outside the labour market for a period. If necessary, workplace adaptations will be made for persons with disabilities. More information about NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.


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