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Postdoctoral Research Assistant Position

University of Southampton
 
Ocean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystems, NERC Strategic Research Division, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
 
Postdoctoral Research Assistant
£26,180 - £29,410 pa
 
Importance of prokaryotic photoheterotrophy in ecosystems of the Atlantic Ocean
 
We are looking for a postdoctoral Research Scientist (PDRA position) with experience and interest in microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology and tracer chemistry, willing to participate in several research cruises.
 
The central aim of the proposal is to elucidate the importance of photoheterotrophy in the open ocean – the Earth’s largest ecosystem, which profoundly affects global biogeochemistry and climate. Photoheterotrophic prokaryotes use light for energy but cannot use carbon dioxide as their sole carbon source and consequently use organic molecules from the environment to satisfy their carbon requirements. This project proposes to test a hypothesis that alphaproteobacteria and Prochlorococcus cyanobacteria numerically dominate the open ocean because of their photoheterotrophy. The proposed research work, which will include both laboratory and ocean cruise experiments, will combine isotopic tracer nutrient bioassays with flow cytometric sorting of bacterio-plankton cells followed by ultra-sensitive radioassaying and nano-scale secondary-ion mass spectrometry in conjunction with molecular identification of prokaryotic cells by halogen and fluorescence in situ hybridisation. The work will bring together laboratory experimentation with field research on transatlantic cruises.
 
The multi-disciplinary team of investigators, carrying out world-class science, will provide in-depth training and supervision for you in all the specific and unique techniques required for the project and will encourage further method development. The three year postdoctoral position at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton is supported by funding from Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), UK.
 
For general enquiries, please contact one of the investigators Prof Mike Zubkov, email: mvz@noc.soton.ac.uk Dr Adrian Martin email: apm1@noc.soton.ac.uk or Prof David Scanlan email: D.J.Scanlan@warwick.ac.uk
 
The appointment is offered on a fixed-term contract basis for three years, commencing June 2010 on NERC terms and conditions. The salary will be in the range of£26,180 to £29,410 per annum.
 
For further information and to download an application form, please visit http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/vacancies/ or alternatively contact Lorraine Taylor, Human Resources, NOCS, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH (tel: +44 023 8059 6604 or email: loraya@noc.soton.ac.uk) for an application pack.
 
The closing date for completed application forms is 19 March 2010. Please quote reference number NOCS 118/10 on all correspondence.

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