Postdoctoral Fellowship in Harmful Algal Bloom Dynamics and Toxins
Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research
School for Environment and Sustainability
University of Michigan
Summary
The Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral research fellow to join our harmful algal blooms (HABs) research group at the University of Michigan and collaborate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (NOAA-GLERL). This position will work with principal investigators to study seasonal trends in Great Lakes HABs through the lens of short-term changes in cellular physiological traits and make predictions regarding bloom succession and dynamics. This research will leverage historical and novel datasets to examine how routine sampling may overlook rapid changes in the physicochemical environment that occur over hours to days and impact the long-term trajectory of the bloom. These rapid changes in temperature, conductivity, pH, light, and nutrient availability potentially lead to fluctuations in bloom biomass, buoyancy, and toxin/metabolite concentrations. Outcomes from the research will enhance our understanding of bloom succession and environmental conditions associated with cell growth and production of toxins and metabolites.
Required Qualifications
- Qualified candidates will hold a Doctoral degree in microbiology, ecology, oceanography, limnology or related discipline. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position.
- Knowledge of microcystin toxins, toxin chemistry, and congeners.
- Experience extracting and processing metabolites (specifically toxins) and analyzing mass spectrometry data and chemical structure for metabolites identification and quantification.
- The candidate should have experience designing and executing nutrient based cyanobacteria experiments and field sampling campaigns.
- A strong publication record in a related field, including as lead author in refereed journal publications.
- Strong communication skills and a demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
Desired Qualifications
- Knowledge of metabolite pathway analysis and reconstruction.
- Research experience in Great Lakes ecology (e.g., phytoplankton, HABs).
- Experience working on research vessels in large bodies of water under various weather conditions.
- Experience performing contemporary statistical techniques with environmental data sets encompassing spatial and temporal domains.
For more information and to apply, visit
https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/209385/postdoctoral-fellowship-harm...
The application deadline is January 14, 2022.