Doctoral Student In Environmental Science With Focus On Environmental Microbiology/Ecotoxicology

The University of Gothenburg tackles society's challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Doctoral position in environmental science with focus on environmental microbiology/ecotoxicology

At the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BioEnv) we have teaching and research activities that stretch from the alpine ecosystem, through forests, cultivated land and streams, all the way into the marine environment. In these environments we study different levels of biological organisation from genes, individuals, and populations, to communities and ecosystems. We work within ecology, evolution, physiology, systematics, and combinations of these fields to understand the impact of natural and anthropogenic changes of the environment.

The department is placed at two different localities: in Natrium at Medicinaregatan 7B in Gothenburg and at the Kristineberg marine research station operated by the Marine Infrastructure at the University of Gothenburg. The current employment is based at Natrium.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages. https: // medarbetarportalen.gu.se/doktorand/?languageId=100001&skipSSOCheck=true

We offer

The University of Gothenburg is a state authority, which means special benefits, more holidays and a great pension. You can read more about our employment benefits here.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages.

https: // medarbetarportalen.gu.se/doktorand/?languageId=100001&skipSSOCheck=true

Project description (Pharm-ERA)

This doctoral position is 1 of 10 doctoral positions offered within the he HORIZON Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Network Pharm-ERA (https: // pharm-era.hub.inrae.fr) “Improving monitoring and Environmental Risk Assessment of PHARMaceuticals, antimicrobial resistance and pathogens from terrestrial to aquatic environments”.

Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) pollution in urban rivers receiving WWTP effluents is common, but their fate, and environmental risk remains poorly studied in river sediment. Context-dependency (ecological abiotic and biotic factors) influences the assembly of natural communities of bacteria and may affect their sensitivity to antibiotics and AMR. This PhD project will provide new knowledge on the interactions between pollutants (residues of antibiotics and AMR) and sediment bacteria, under altered abiotic and biotic contexts: a gradient of microbial diversity, pre-exposure history and/or pollution levels. Experimental studies using natural microbial communities in microcosms facilities and field sampling will be implemented for hypothesis testing. The PhD student will join the Algal and Microbial Ecotoxicology Lab at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) and work with experimental testing, environmental microbiology, molecular approaches, microbial functions, and sequencing-based tools. In addition, the PhD student will have hand-on isolation of antibiotics resistance bacteria and antibiotics turnover in collaboration with the Agroécologie Laboratory at INRAE BFC, Dijon (France) and on environmental analytical chemistry in collaboration with IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona (Spain).

Effects will be quantitatively assessed by linking microbial composition and function using a combination of molecular tools such as metagenomics, quantitative PCR, and eco(tox)logical methods such as nitrogen turnover processes and antibiotics transformation rates.

Duties

The main task is to conduct the PhD thesis work under supervision, which includes development of the PhD student's methodological experience, analytical skills, as well as theoretical depth and breadth. Techniques used within the project include experimental work with natural communities of bacteria, ecotoxicological tests, molecular tools such as metagenomics, quantitative PCR, and biochemical approaches for quantification of nitrogen turnover processes and antibiotics transformation rates. The studies will be conducted mostly as field studies/laboratory studies. Shorter secondments (2-4 months) will be spent in France, Spain and Greece. At the INRAE BFC (Dijon, France) to assess the mineralization of selected antibiotics in sediments using 14C-radiorespirometry experiments and isolation of antibiotic- resistant bacteria, under the supervision of Dr. Fabrice Martin-Laurent. At IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain to determine the levels of antibiotics, including their transformation products, in water and sediment samples produced in field and lab-based studies, under the supervision of Dr. Victoria Osorio. And at SmallOmics, Greece, to get training on bioinformatics and realization of sequencing data analysis, under the supervision of Dr. Alexandra Meziti.

Education at third-cycle level comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree.

Education at third-cycle level comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree. As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment the last twelve months of the doctoral studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.

Eligibility

Education at third-cycle level requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.

The general eligibility requirements for education at third-cycle level are:

having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or - the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or

the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad.

To meet the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies, applicants must:

have a second-cycle (advanced-level) degree in a relevant subject area in the natural sciences, or

have completed studies for at least 60 higher education credits at a second-cycle level in relevant subject areas in the natural sciences, or

have completed a corresponding programme of relevance to the planned third-cycle programme, in Sweden or in another country, or have equivalent qualifications.

Relevant subject for the planned third-cycle education is biology, ecotoxicology, ecology, microbiology, environmental sciences, biotechnology or similar programs.

Assessment criteria

The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate the education at third-cycle level.

We are seeking a motivated person for PhD studies in antibiotics pollution and ecotoxicology, emphasizing the ecological effects of AMR. The applicant should possess:

Experience or motivation in experimental approaches and tools for microorganism's ecology/ecotoxicology.

Experience of sampling, microorganism's cultivation, analytical methods for microorganisms, experience of planning and setting up experiments, molecular methods, microbial genomics and bioinformatics are considered as additional merits.

The applicant shall be able to work independently and have good cooperation skills.

The applicant shall be able to move to other countries (France, Spain and Greece) for secondments.

Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken, are necessary.

The application should preferably be written in English and must include:

CV + Letter of motivation

Contact of two reference persons to be contacted by the selection committee (name, relation to the candidate, e-mail address and phone number)

Complete list of publications and academic works

Proof of language proficiencies

Proof of master diploma or 2024 registration to master degree

The top ranked candidates will be selected for an interview, which might be held in English and could also be performed digitally.

Employment

Once you have been admitted for education at third-cycle level, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg.

The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100.

Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time.

A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at third-cycle level for four years.

This doctoral position is 1 of 10 doctoral positions offered within the he HORIZON Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Network Pharm-ERA (https: // pharm-era.hub.inrae.fr) “Improving monitoring and Environmental Risk Assessment of PHARMaceuticals, antimicrobial resistance and pathogens from terrestrial to aquatic environments”.

In order to be approved for MSCA financing the applicant, at the time for the application, should not have resided in Sweden more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Moreover, the applicant must be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.

Placed at the department of Biological and Environmental Sciences. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: 2024-09-01 or upon agreement.

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

Contact information

For further information please contact:

Natàlia Corcoll Cornet, Associate Professor (Docent) Phone: +46(0)31-786 48 54 E-mail: [email protected] Webpage: https: // www. gu.se/en/about/find-staff/nataliacorcoll

Åsa Arrhenius, Head of Department Phone +46(0)31-786 26 25 E-mail: [email protected]

If you have any questions about the employment process, please contact HR at the Department of Biological and Environmental Science, [email protected]

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https: // www. gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande

Application

You can apply to be admitted for education at third-cycle level via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

Applications must be received by: April 14th 2024

Information for International Applicants

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:

https: // www. gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services https: // www. movetogothenburg.com/

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden's regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.