The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences is the national centre for research into the geosphere. With around 1,650 employees, we develop a sound understanding of systems and processes of the solid Earth as well as strategies and options for action to counter global change, understand natural hazards and sustainably secure energy and raw material requirements.

Project Overview, Training and Research Environment

The appointed PhD student will explore the movement and location of microbes during mineral weathering in soils. The work will focus on laboratory based transparent soil systems to study the kinetics and mechanisms of microbial movement towards iron and phosphate minerals and to evaluate effects of fungal/bacterial interactions on rock bioweathering. She/he/they will also have the opportunity to carry out some complementary field studies. The project aims to  assess the impact that microbial movement in soils has on global biogeochemical processes.

You will integrate genetic and microscopy data of microbial communities and analyze associated temporal and spatial changes at mineral-microbe interfaces. You will be trained in experimental design (e.g., microfluidics, transparent soils), cutting-edge molecular microbial methods (e.g., DNA/RNA-based genomics) and in various 2D and 3D imaging techniques to visualize microbes in complex environments including electron and X-ray microspectroscopic methods (see  Potsdam Imaging and Spectral Analysis (PISA) facility)

You will become an integral part of the Interface Geochemistry section and closely collaborate with other team members; you will be registered as a PhD student at the Freie Universität Berlin.

We offer a supportive and stimulating and fully inclusive research environment, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and opportunities for professional development. Non-discrimination and equal treatment of all team members is an integral part of our group policy.

Your responsibilities:

• Conduct innovative laboratory experiments using transparent soil materials in microfluidic microcosms to investigate microbe migration towards nutrient-carrying minerals
• Determine bio-geochemical changes at the mineral/microbe interface
• Localize nutrient elements dissolved from minerals within adjacent fungal and bacterial cells
• Characterize a co-dependent fungal/bacterial community in rock bioweathering processes
• Publish research findings in international peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific conferences

Your qualifications:

• MSc degree (or equivalent) in Environmental Sciences, Microbial Ecology, or related fields
• Strong background in microbiology or molecular biology
• Documented experience with the use of some relevant techniques listed above
• Basic understanding of biogeochemical processes in soils
• Capacity for interdisciplinary and international teamwork with excellent communication skills
• Proficiency in spoken and written English