The Antarctic seasonal sea-ice zone is rapidly changing, with consequences for the key primary producers: microalgae growing in sea-ice and water. While traditionally regarded as purely photoautotrophic, many of these microalgae likely also feed on other microbes or take up dissolved organic matter. Such a mixotrophic lifestyle might help them to survive the polar night and allow them an early start in the growing season, long before other algae receive sufficient light to pick up growth.
Additionally, microalgae contribute to the production of the trace gas dimethylsulfide (DMS) that has an impact on climate via cloud formation. A research project aims to understand the role of mixotrophic protists in Antarctic Carbon and Sulfur Cycles. Such mechanistic understanding will help predict how changing ice cover will affect microalgal growth and DMS-production in the future, and whether feedbacks might be expected in a changing climate.
What you do
As a postdoctoral researcher in this project, you will investigate how multiple environmental stressors affect the community composition, physiology, and gene expression of Antarctic microalgae, with a particular focus on their mixotrophic nutrition. You will resolve how mixotrophy contributes to carbon cycling during ice melt in spring and how this contribution depends on environmental conditions. You will perform laboratory experiments and fieldwork in collaboration with two other postdocs within the project.
- Design and perform laboratory experiments with cultured microalgae to assess their response to multiple environmental factors under controlled conditions
- Participate in a research expedition to a research station in a polar ecosystem to assess microalgal species composition and perform field experiments to quantify their rates of feeding and photosynthesis
- Publication of the results in international scientific journals
- Presentation of the results within the department, at national and international scientific meetings
- Supervision of BSc and/or MSc students who wish to do an internship on Antarctic microalgae
Profile
We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate who enjoys a combination of laboratory experiments and field studies. You have a keen interest in marine microalgal ecology and are eager to perform research in Antarctica. You are a well-organized team player, but also able to work independently, and enjoy collaboration in an international team.
- A PhD degree in phytoplankton ecology, environmental microbiology, biological oceanography or a related field
- Experience with culturing aquatic microorganisms, physiological assays and fieldwork in marine ecosystems
- Experience with omics-techniques and bioinformatic/computational analyses are a plus
- Willingness and ability to perform extended fieldwork at a research station in a polar ecosystem
- Strong communication skills in English
How to apply
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