A 4-year fully funded PhD position is available at the Dept. F.-A. Forel https://www.unige.ch/forel/, University of Geneva (Switzerland). The researcher will explore microbial life in the atmosphere and assess microbial invasions in the Arctic. The successful candidate will join the newly established MicroAdapt lab as part of a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) funded project.
Key responsibilities include culturing microorganisms, designing and conducting experiments, as well as performing DNA/RNA extractions and bioinformatics/statistical analyses to examine the composition and function of environmental microbiomes. The PhD student will have the opportunity to participate in fieldwork in the Arctic.
The student will also present research findings at internal seminars, national and international conferences, and prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
The preferred start date is May 2025, with some flexibility for qualified candidates.
Your Profile:
- Motivated and willing to learn!
- MSc in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Ecology, Soil Science or similar
- Some experience in molecular biology (e.g. PCR, DNA/RNA extraction)
- Experience or willingness to learn bioinformatics and statistical data analysis
- Willingness to participate in field work in challenging conditions.
- Capable of working independently and in a team.
- Good English communication skills.
- The ideal candidate should be reliable, independent, respectful of others, and interested in contributing to a cohesive lab environment.
Please send the following documents to apply:
- A two-page cover letter that describes your work/research experience and interests and addresses the required/desired position qualifications as well as your availability
- A current CV that lists past education, publications, and research experience.
- Contact information for two or three professional references
Send your application (or any questions) to Dr. Lucie Malard (lucie.a.malard@gmail.com) with the subject line “Environmental Microbiology PhD Application”
Deadline to apply: November 22nd, 2024.