Project description and working tasks

You will be part of a team studying processes for the formation of methylmercury in oxygen deficient coastal environments with a focus on how microbial community composition, chemical speciation of mercury and molecular composition of organic matter control this process.

Mercury accumulates in aquatic biota as neurotoxic methylmercury and is of concern for global public health. Oxygen deficiency is spreading in coastal seas and the global ocean which could increase methylmercury formation by anaerobic microorganisms and thereby increase methylmercury exposure to marine food webs. Our understanding of the mechanisms and drivers for methylmercury formation under such scenarios is however insufficient, hindering quantitative predictions and risk management.

Together with the research team, you will plan and carry out field samplings of water, and potentially biota, in brackish (The Baltic Sea) and marine (Norwegian fjords) coastal environments. You will further carry out methylation rate incubation experiments with enriched isotope tracers in connection to field samplings and, together with collaborators, prepare samples for metagenomics and metatranscriptomics analyses. You will determine mercury and methylmercury concentrations and use thermodynamic modelling to assess the chemical speciation of mercury. You will also be responsible for writing scientific publications and presentations of results at seminars / conferences.

The postdoctoral project is funded by grants from the Swedish research council Formas. The projects will be lead by Professor Erik Björn and carried out by an international team of researchers in biogeochemistry and environmental microbiology.

 

Required qualifications

To qualify for this postdoctoral position candidates should have a doctorate degree, or a foreign qualification deemed to be the equivalent of a doctorate degree, in biogeochemistry, environmental microbiology, oceanography, environmental sciences or an equivalent subject area. Your doctorate degree should have a focus on mercury biogeochemistry. Priority should be given to candidates who have completed their doctoral degree no more than three years before the closing date of the application. A candidate who has completed their degree prior to this may be considered if special circumstances exist. Special circumstances include absence due to illness, parental leave or clinical practice, appointments of trust in trade unions or similar circumstances.

You have experience of and an interest in experimental research. A very good knowledge in written and spoken English is required. You should have a good ability to take initiative and collaborate and be flexible to changes within the project. In your work, you should have a focus on high quality and a good ability to solve problems analytically. Experience of field sampling, work with natural water samples, experiments with enriched isotope tracers, environmental analyses with MS techniques and GC-ICPMS techniques are meritorious.

Application

A complete application must contain:

  • Personal letter of a maximum of two A4 pages describing your qualifications, research interests, why you are applying for the position and how your research experiences fit with the announced position,
  • CV and list of publications
  • Certified copy of doctoral certificate
  • Certified copies of other relevant diplomas, academic course certificates and/or grades
  • If possible, electronic links to doctoral thesis and a maximum of 5 relevant publications (please do not attach pdf-files of theses or publications)
  • Contact details for two reference persons
  • Other documents that you want to invoke.

The application must be written in English or Swedish. The application is submitted through our electronic recruitment system. Documents sent electronically must be in Word or PDF format. Last day to apply is Monday 14th of February 2022.

Further information is provided by Professor Erik Björn, erik.bjorn@umu.se

For more information follow this link.

via UMEA UNIVERSITY
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