Postdoctoral Students in Biology

ecosystem ecologists, biogeochemists, and modellers, who have a shared vision, and combine empirical and modelling approaches to accomplish this. Our research focuses on the study of soil carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems around the globe; from arctic tundra to tropical rainforests and semiarid grasslands. We are specifically interested in aspects influencing the spatial and temporal variability in microbial community function and structure, and their responses to stress, with special emphasis on environmental factors such as soil moisture, temperature, limiting nutrients, salinity and pH, and anthropogenic factors such as tillage, fertilization and metal contamination. We study the microbial control and environmental dependence of ecosystem functions using field and laboratory experiments, and then incorporate validated ecological insights into models operating at different scales.

Being a doctoral student

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University.

As a doctoral student, you will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

More about being a doctoral student at Doctoral studies | Faculty of Science

Subject and project description

We are looking for a doctoral student whose mission it will be to investigate whether and how soil microbial communities can adapt their traits to enhance their performance during drought and after drought ends. Specifically, the doctoral student will determine how microbial resilience and resistance to drought can arise, along with its ecological, physiological, and/or evolutionary underpinnings. This work will combine controlled laboratory experiments, greenhouse pot experiments, and field experiments to advance our understanding of how microbial ecology can drive ecosystem biogeochemistry. It will be possible to include ongoing investigations where field experiments have been used to simulate ecosystem drought in arctic and terrestrial environments. Key performance metrics will include estimates of microbial growth occuring in intact soils samples, through the use of radio- and stable-isotope tracing methods, but also estimates of biogeochemical processes including C and nutrient cycling.

The project will provide an advanced education in soil microbial ecology and biogeochemistry, and will be laboratory-intensive with opportunities to conduct fieldwork. The project is suitable for candidates with a background and interest in soil microbial ecology, ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry.

General syllabus for third-cycle studies in Biology

Work duties

Your primary responsibility will be to pursue your doctoral education, which mainly consists of conducting independent research leading to a doctoral thesis.

During your PhD studies, you will develop expertise in determining microbial growth rates in intact soil samples using isotope tracing techniques (stable and radioisotopes) to quantify isotope incorporation into specific biomarkers. By measuring microbial growth across environmental gradients (e.g. soil moisture), you will investigate microbial functional trait distributions and describe these using mathematical functions that can be incorporated into ecosystem process models.

To address these research questions, you will have the opportunity to combine field experiments (e.g. rainfall exclusion treatments), greenhouse experiments, and laboratory microcosm studies. A substantial part of the project involves laboratory-based analytical work. You will analyse large biological datasets generated from these experimental systems using advanced analytical approaches and communicate your findings through publications in international peer-reviewed journals.

You are expected to actively participate in ongoing research projects within the research group while planning and conducting independent research on how microbial processes are influenced by water availability and how soil microorganisms adapt to drought. As part of your doctoral training, you will present your research at group seminars as well as at national and international scientific conferences.

The doctoral education also includes mandatory and elective PhD courses that will support your development as an independent researcher and strengthen your skills in formulating, communicating, and critically evaluating scientific questions.

In addition to your doctoral studies, up to 20% of your working time may be devoted to departmental duties, primarily teaching. Depending on your qualifications and experience, teaching responsibilities may include undergraduate courses in Biology as well as more advanced courses in Soil and Plant Ecology.

Qualifications

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Microbial ecology if the applicant has:

• completed an independent work (e.g. degree project) in a relevant subject comprising at least 30 higher education credits.

The special qualification may also have been obtained through other equivalent education, which is assessed on a case-by-case basis. In order to enable interdisciplinary initiatives and significant in-depth studies in certain areas, qualifications other than the applicant's subject-specific competence in Microbial ecology may be taken into account.

Additional requirements

In order to complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required:

• An advanced university degree (MSc or equivalent competence) in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Physical Geography, Soil Science, Biogeochemistry, or a closely related area.
• Excellent oral and written proficiency in English.
• Documented research experience (e.g. master thesis or equivalent) preferably related to the project.
• Documented ability to conduct independent work.
• Practical experience of conducting laboratory work, preferably with methods related to the project.

Selection criteria

The selection of eligible applicants will be made taking into account the ability to benefit from the training based on the following criteria:

• Experience in using isotope-based methods.
• Experience in planning and conducting field-work.
• Experience in data handling and statistical analysis.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. It is advisable to enter information on what your unit specifically can offer as a workplace.

More about working at Lund University on lu.se

About the employment

The employment is a fixed-term employment at full time, starting according to agreement. Third cycle studies at Faculty of Science consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund university's staffpages

How to apply

The application should be written in English and you must attach to your application:

• CV and personal letter with a justification of why you are interested in the doctoral position and in what way the research project matches your interests and your educational background.
• Copies of issued study certificates and/or diplomas. These should prove your basic and special eligibility for the doctoral education subject and show that you have the subject knowledge required for the doctoral education project.
• Other information that you wish to refer to (copies of grades, information for references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

We welcome your application!

About the Faculty

Within the Faculty of Science research and education is conducted within Astronomy, Biology, Physics, Geosciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, medical radiation physics, physical geography and Environmental Sciences. The Faculty of Science is organized into eight departments, gathered in the northern campus area in Lund. The Faculty of Science has approximately 1900 students, 330 PhD students and 730 employees.

We kindly decline all sales and marketing contacts.