PhD Position in Bremerhaven bei Alfred Wegener Institut für Polar und Meeresforschung

PhD Position (m/f/d) in Bremerhaven bei Alfred Wegener Institut für Polar und Meeresforschung

Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung

The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) is a member of the Helmholtz Association (HGF) and funded by federal and state government. AWI focuses on polar and marine research in a variety of disciplines such as biology, oceanography, geology, geochemistry and geophysics thus allowing multidisciplinary approaches to scientific goals.

PhD Position (m/f/d) “Chemical Ecology of Harmful Algal Bloom forming species in the Baltic Sea”

Background
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are becoming increasingly prevalent in the Baltic Sea, with the potential to have serious impacts on ecosystem services, marine biodiversity and human health. This position will focus on two species: the dinoflagellate Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax, which is currently spreading from west to east in the Baltic Sea, and the haptophyte Prymnesium parvum, which has caused a mass mortality of fish in the Oder River in 2022.

The work will include the chemical characterisation and quantification of the phycotoxins of the two species and their effects on other planktonic organisms. The candidate should therefore have the motivation to work on ecological questions, including species interactions using algal culture experiments, fieldwork on expeditions, as well as on chemical-analytical questions (LC-MS/MS, NMR). The PhD project forms part of the larger research consortium HABBAL, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The consortium's objective is to assess the impact of novel harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Baltic Sea on biodiversity and human health.

Tasks
The interdisciplinary PhD-project to be performed by the candidate will comprise tasks in the fields of Marine Chemical Ecology, Analytical Chemistry, and Biochemistry:

The performance of co-incubation and dilution experiments with the objective of assessing the effects of HAB species on biodiversity and vice versa.
Optimisation of extraction, purification and quantification of the respective phycotoxins, including the development of a solid phase adsorption toxin tracking (SPATT) technique for the detection of dissolved phycotoxins.
An assessment of the stability of the respective phycotoxins under different conditions (e.g. pH, light, temperature) and the adsorptive losses on different materials.
Collect and quantify phytotoxins from laboratory and field samples.

Requirements

A Master of Science (MSc.) degree in chemistry, biochemistry, marine biology, or a related field is required.
Strong English language skills and the ability to work in an international interdisciplinary team are essential.
Willingness to take part in ship-based fieldwork.
Previous experience with plankton cultures, LC-MS/MS or NMR is ideal, but not a necessity.

Further Information

For any questions you may have, you are very welcome to get in touch with Dr. Bernd Krock (bernd.krock@awi.de; +49(471) 4831-2055) and Dr. Sylke Wohlrab (sylke.wohlrab@awi.de; +49(471) 4831-1253).

This is limited to 3 years subject to the approval of funds . The salary will be paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federation (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), up to salary level 13 (66%). The place of employment will be Bremerhaven.

All doctoral candidates will be members of AWI's postgraduate program POLMAR or another graduate school and thus benefit from a comprehensive training program and extensive support measures.

The AWI is characterized by

our scientific success - excellent research
collaboration and cooperation - intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
opportunities to develop – on the job and towards other positions
an international environment – everyday contact with people from all over the world
health promotion and company fitness
support services and a culture of reconciling work and family
occupational pension provision (VBL)

Equal opportunities are an integral part of our personnel policy. The AWI aims to increase the number of employees who are women, and therefore, strongly encourages qualified women to apply.

Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.

The AWI fosters the compatibility of work and family in various ways and has received a number of awards as a result of this engagement.

We look forward to your application!

Please submit your application by July 2nd 2024, exclusiv