The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences is the national centre for research into the geosphere. With around 1,650 employees, we develop a sound understanding of systems and processes of the solid Earth as well as strategies and options for action to counter global change, understand natural hazards and sustainably secure energy and raw material requirements.

The new project is funded by the DFG Priority Programme Antarctic Research and will be done together with the University of Tübingen where another PhD position will be hosted. Both positions will closely work together encompassing the fields of Microbiology and Soil Science regarding initial soil development. 

In Antarctica, soil development begins immediately after the retreat of ice and snow. Our previous research has shown that the terrestrial microbiome reacts quickly to environmental changes, and distinct soil structures and aggregates form. We assume that soil formation processes are initially spatially segmented, with microhabitats developing inside and on aggregate surfaces. To better understand the interactions between microorganisms, soil formation, and microhabitats, we aim to analyze aggregate interiors and exteriors separately. By using fluorescence labeling and flow cytometry, we can examine these spheres in more detail, expanding our knowledge of how microorganisms initiate and promote soil formation in cold deserts like Antarctica.

You will become an integral part of the Geomicrobiology Section and closely collaborate with other team members and with the colleagues from Tübingen University. You will be registered as PhD student at the University of Potsdam.

Your responsibilities:

• Conduct innovative laboratory experiments using soil samples from Antarctica for soil simulation experiments to investigate microbial-driven soil formation
• Establish the laboratory experiment to simulate soil formation under global change conditions in Antarctica
• Develop a cell separation technique in soil aggregates based on fluorescence labeling in combination with flow cytometry
• Analyze microbial communities and their function at the soil aggregate scale using multi-‘omics techniques
• Publish research results in international peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific conferences

Your qualifications:

• MSc degree (or equivalent) in Microbial Ecology or related fields
• Strong background in microbiology and molecular biology
• Documented experience with DNA/RNA-based methods in soil ecosystems and possibly flow cytometry
• Basic understanding of geo-bio interactions in soils
• Capacity for interdisciplinary and international teamwork with excellent communication skills
• Experience with scientific writing
• Proficiency in spoken and written English