Ph.D. Position in Microbial Ecology

February 6, 2009

Ph.D. position in microbial ecology
Microbial Ecology Research Group

The research group Microbial Ecology is part of the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies (CEES) in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the University of Groningen. The group studies the adaptive strategies of prokaryotic microorganisms that allow these to survive in complex natural habitats. One of the topics focuses on the role of microbial diversity in ecosystem functioning. The research is strongly multidisciplinary and includes microbiology, ecology, molecular biology and plant physiology and ecology. The group provides a lively and internationally oriented scientific environment with excellent facilities.

Project
A major goal in general ecology is to understand the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning. Ecological theory predicts that ecosystems with a higher diversity of species are more productive and more stable in the face of stresses and environmental fluctuations. Amongst the different components of biodiversity, the diversity of functional traits of species in a community is considered to be the best predictor of the related ecosystem process. In this context, we recently used experimental communities of bacterial species to evaluate the role of bacterial functional diversity on community processes. Diversity had indeed a positive effect on community function and we were able to demonstrate the relevance of the complementarity of species for resource use capacity in shaping biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships. The main goal of this PhD project is to use a similar model system to address the role of bacterial diversity in respect of the stability of the communities. You will be responsible for designing experiments with bacterial communities to test theories related to the diversity-stability relationship. You will apply classical microbiological methods to determine community functioning. You will develop and apply molecular methods for the quantification of bacterial species, as well as statistical models to untangle the effects of diversity components on community stability. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Microbial Ecology center (UMR5557, Université Lyon1) in Lyon, France.
Requirements
You have a Masters degree or equivalent degree in microbiology/ microbial ecology, with a strong background in general ecology or in ecology with interest in working with microbial model systems. Experience with the application of molecular methods in the study of the complex communities is an advantage. The project is demanding and asks for dedication as well as a creative mind. Good proficiency of the English language is required. The Ph.D. candidate is expected to attend a few courses and to assist in teaching students at different levels (10% of time).

Additional information
For more information you may contact Dr Joana F. Salles
e-mail address: J.Falcao.Salles@rug.nl

Additional information can be obtained through one of the following links.
• About the organization (http://www.rug.nl)
• (http://www.rug.nl/fwn/onderzoek/programmas/biologie/microbieleoecologie/index)

Conditions of employment
The university offers a salary of € 1633, to 2443,– gross (bruto) salary per month. Objective of the temporary 4 years position is to produce a number of research articles in highly ranked, peer-reviewed scientific journals, which will form the basis of the thesis leading to the granting of the Ph.D. degree (Dr.) at the University of Groningen. After the first year, there will be an evaluation as to the feasibility of successful completion of the Ph.D. thesis within the next 3 years.

Application
Letters written in English, including a personal motivation, a curriculum vitae, along with names and addresses (including telephone/fax and e-mail addresses) of three referees, are to be sent to:
Department of Microbial Ecology, University of Groningen
Biological Centre
Postbus 14
9750 AA Haren
The Netherlands

The position will be open until March, 15th.

PhD Position, Soil Sciences, Germany

February 9, 2009

We invite applications for a PhD position within the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft / German Research Foundation) project Influence of tillage practice on infiltration processes in agricultural catchments.

Content of the research project:

The influence of different tillage operations on runoff formation and runoff concentration will be analysed and physical-based modelled for small catchment areas (lower mesoscale <>

Scenarios shall be simulated to quantify the effectiveness of tillage and soil coverage on water retention and runoff reduction. Possibilities and limits of flood protection will be analysed. At last test simulations will be realised with larger raster resolution to get an advice if it is possible to regionalize the scientific findings. If these tests are satisfactory, the transfer of processes and simulations to the upper mesoscale (100-1000 km²) will be carried out in a new project.

Job description
The successful candidate will work with the newest water balance model WaSiM-ETH 8.2.9 (see http://www.wasim.ch/en/index.html). The focus of the simulation is the evaluation of sealing processes due to erosive rain events in combination with different tillage operations.

Additionally, two dimensional overland flows will be modelled to fully understand different water pathways including infiltration and return flow. A comparison between conventional and ecological soil cultivation will conclude the research.

The applicant is expected to have a Diplom / M.Sc. in civil / environmental engineering or geographic / soil sciences.
Advanced scientific programming skills (FORTRAN90, MATLAB, UNIX) are expected and the ability to work efficiently in a team is regarded as essential.

The position is offered for 18 months. During this time period a PhD thesis can be completed because essential pre-work (data analysis, build-up of the WaSiM model) has already been done.

Payment is according to TVöD, E13 60% including extensive social security plans. It is possible to start the scientific work with a M.Sc.-Thesis on the basis of a student employment. After examination the position (TVöD, E13 60%) can be continued over the offered period (18 months).

The Universität der Bundeswehr seeks to increase the number of female scientists and encourages them to apply. Handicapped persons with comparable qualifications receive preferential status.

All applications (including a cover letter, a curriculum vitae and copies of scientific degrees), received before 1st of March 2009 will be considered. The position is open until filled.

For further information please contact
Prof. Dr.-Ing Markus Disse, e-mail: markus.disse@unibw.de, phone: +49 89/6004-3491

Universität der Bundeswehr München · 85577 Neubiberg · Germany

Scholarships for International Students 2009 - The Chinese University of Hong Kong

ebruary 6, 2009

Scholarships for International Students 2009 - The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Description : Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong offers around 50 undergraduate programmes with majority of them taught in English. We have been ranked 38 in the world’s top university 2007 by Times Higher Education Supplement. Over 10 scholarships funded by the Hong Kong Government as well as private donations are available for international students commencing full-time undergraduate studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in September 2009. The value of the scholarships may vary from HK$80,000 to HK$125,000 per year. These awards are renewable on an annual basis and tenable for up to the duration of undergraduate studies undertaken by the awardees at CUHK, subject to continued satisfactory academic performance.To qualify for such awards, the students should have outstanding academic records and demonstrable financial need. All international applicants will automatically be considered for Scholarships once formal admission offers have been given. No separate application is required. For entrance requirement, application procedure and

Programme details, please kindly refer to our website at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/adm/intl.

The application deadline is February 27, 2009.

Postdoctoral positions for Neural Stem Cells in Neurooncology and Regenerative Neurosciences, Hospital University Sains Malaysia, Malaysia

Postions for Postdocs in the use of Mesenchymal/Embryonic Neural Stem Cells in an animal brain/spinal cord injury model as well as the involvement of stem cells in the progression of brain tumour.

Applications with a Phd and a neuroscience background are invited for a 2-year post-doc fellowship, working with neural stem/progenitor cells and progression of medulloblastomas. The applicant should be experienced in molecular and cell biology and be experiences in doing animal brain cancer models studies.

We are currently seeking highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellows to join our team who have extensive experience in electrophysiological recording techniques and fine dissection skills and experience in stem cell culture at the Department of Neurosciences,University Sains Malaysia Health Campus where we are focusing on animal models of sensorimotor control of spinal locomotor circuits,neural plasticity, and functional recovery after stem cells have been transplanted into the brain or spinal cord after injury.

Candidates should have a Ph.D. in neuroscience, physiology or bioengineering or other related sciences with an academic record of scientific excellence, independent research, and a strong interest in an interdisciplinary approach with experience in stem cell culture,brain/spinal cord electrophysiology (in vivo and in vitro) recording and electromyography studies.

Applicants should submit a curriculum vita, list of publications, and e-mail address and telephone of 3 references who can attest to your lab skills.

Contact:
Prof Jafri Malin Abdullah MD, Ph.D. ?
Professor of Neurosciences and Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon, ?
Department of Neurosciences,
School Of Medical Sciences/Hospital University Sains Malaysia,
Jalan Sultanah Zainab 2,
Kubang Kerian,Kota Bharu,
Kelantan,16150,MALAYSIA

Tel:+6097664240 Fax:+6097648613

Email:deptneurosciencesppspusm[ at ]yahoo.com,
neurohead[ at ]kck.usm.my

PhD Studentships, The Inflammation & Cancer Laboratory, the National University of Singapore, Singapore

The Inflammation & Cancer Laboratory at the Department of Physiology & NUS Immunology Program at the National University of Singapore is seeking applications for Ph.D students ??Candidates will work on research projects focused on (i) the intricate molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways associated with T and B cell development, activation and survival. The role of novel proteins in lymphocyte development will be investigated using transgenic mice and chimeras; and (ii) the pathways involved in the development of cancer, in relation to tumor immunology and possible T cell/DC immunotherapy.??

Qualified candidates should possess a recent B.Sc. or Masters in Immunology or Biochemistry or related field. Experimental background in molecular biology, cell biology, immunology, and/or pharmacology is strongly recommended. In addition, foreign applicants should have taken the GRE and obtained a minimum of 1200/4.5 to be eligible. Please do not email or apply if you have not taken your GRE. ??Self-motivation, passion and commitment to scientific research, and excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential.??

More information about the scholarship can be found at http://medicine.nus.edu.sg/postgrad/vision.jsp .

Please send CV and one-page summary of previous work and current research interests to ??Dr Lina Lim?Dept of Physiology & NUS Immunology Program?National University of Singapore?linalab[ at ]gmail.com?

??“Singapore is considered the new Biomedical Research Hub of Asia with a vibrant research culture and community. National University of Singapore was ranked top in Asia for Life Sciences & Biomedicine, taking the 12th spot in the world ranking for this discipline in the Times Higher Education Supplement-Quacquarelli Symonds (THES-QS) University Rankings 2007.”

PhD Studentship in Drug Safety, Pharmacoepidemiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Vacancy for a PhD student in drug safety (pharmacoepidemiology)
The Netherlands / Denmark / United Kingdom

Utrecht University, Faculty of Science:
The new Faculty of Science consists of six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information and Computing Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry and Mathematics. The Faculty is home to 3500 students and nearly 2000 staff and is internationally renowned for the quality of its research. The Faculty’s academic programmes reflect developments in today’s society.

The department of Pharmaceutical Sciences is responsible for teaching in pharmacy, and drug-related research. The division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy has currently a job opening for a PhD student in pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety.

Scope of the post:
Fulltime during 3 year (1.0 fte).

Salary:
The gross salary is according to the collective agreement of Dutch Universities, in the range between € 2000-€ 2500 per month.

Job description:
You will address the main question, why the potential risk of bone fractures is different between users of diabetes medication in Denmark, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In addition, you will estimate the risk of fracture in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. The world’s largest medical databases will be analyzed, yielding the computerized medical data of approximately 20 million patients. The research project will hopefully result in new, better methods to evaluate side effects of drugs. You will be conducting statistical analyses (not too complex) and literature review. The results of your work will be presented at international scientific meetings, and will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The scientific publication will be the backbone of your PhD thesis.

The job will be based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, close to Amsterdam and Schiphol airport. At least three months of the research project will be conducted in Denmark (Copenhagen/Aarhus). In this part, you’ll be supervised by a Danish endocrinologist / epidemiologist. There are exciting possibilities to conduct part of the research project in central London (at the UK General Practice Research Database). Partly working from home is another possibility of this project. You will be supervised by Dr. Frank de Vries, pharmacist/epidemiologist, Dr. Tjeerd-Pieter van Staa, medical doctor/epidemiologist, en Prof. Dr. Bert Leufkens, professor in pharmacoepidemiology.

Each year, approximately 16,000 patients sustain a hip fracture in the Netherlands. About 20% die within the year after the hip fracture. Scientists continuously monitor potential side-effects (such as hip fractures) of drugs that have been brought onto the market.

Qualifications:
You have either a master degree in epidemiology, statistics, mathematics, or public health. Medical doctors or pharmacists, chemists or candidates with a higher degree in biomedical science or engineering are invited to apply as well. You have no difficulties with writing in English. You are proactive and reliable. You are able to prove that you have a working permit for at least the Netherlands and Denmark (both countries are part of the European Union).

Terms of employment:
The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 6,4% per year. In addition we offer: a pension scheme, a partially paid parental leave, flexible employment conditions in which you may trade salary for vacation days or vice versa. Conditions are based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities. The research group will provide the candidate with necessary support on all aspects of the project.

Further details:
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from Dr Frank de Vries: phone: +31(0)610004382 – f.devries[ at ]uu.nl

How to apply:
Please send your application (including a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae and contact details of at least two references) before 2 March 2009 to Dr Frank de Vries, f.devries[ at ]uu.nl

Closing date: 2 March 2009

PhD Position in Experimental Dermatology, Luebeck, Germany

February 12, 2009

PhD student position immediately available at the Experimental Dermatology Unit, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany for a project on the role of erythropoietin in human skin and hair follicle biology (background: see Bodó E et al., FASEB J 2007), as part of acollaboration project between the Universities of Kiel (PD Dr. A. Kromminga) and Luebeck (Prof. R. Paus, Prof. W. Jelkmann).

Enrollment at University of Kiel as doctoral student mandatory.

Prior experience in skin research, receptor autoradiography or molecular endocrinology highly desirable, documented expertise in immunohistochemistry/

immunofluorescence microscopy essential.
For further information, contact: P rof. R. Paus, +49-451-500-2543,
ralf.paus@uk-sh.de

Application deadline: March 10, 2009.