[ES_JOBS_NET] Postdoctoral Research Associate in Arctic Soil Microbial Ecology, London, UK

[James Bradley]

The Earth Surface Science group at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL),
UK, are seeking a postdoc in Arctic soil microbial ecology to work on a
NERC and NSF-funded project ‘Sensors Under Snow: Seasonal Processes in the
Evolution of Arctic Soils (SUN SPEARS)’.

The SUN SPEARS project is a collaboration between QMUL’s School of
Geography, the British Geological Survey (BGS), the University of Utah
(USA), Montana Tech (USA), and the University of Colorado, Boulder (USA).
The aim of the project is to improve the understanding of seasonal
processes in Arctic soils and assess how seasonality shapes the long-term
development of Arctic soils following glacier retreat. Since 2021, we have
monitored the characteristics of surface soils in the forefield of a
retreating Svalbard glacier: we have carried out repeated year-round
sampling campaigns to measure biological and geochemical characteristics of
the soils, and installed a network of buried geophysical sensors which
continuously monitor seasonal changes in soil physical properties.

The major tasks for this postdoc is to investigate the structure, function,
activity and seasonal changes to microbial communities in Arctic soils,
using data already generated by the ongoing project. We have sampled
glacier forefield soils during the summer, fall, winter and spring, and
generated genomic data including 16S and 18S rRNA amplicon sequencing
libraries, metagenomes, and metatranscriptomes, as well as geochemical and
physical data.

The PDRA will:

   - Analyze genomic data (including amplicon sequencing libraries,
   metagenomes, and metatranscriptomes) to explore the characteristics of
   Arctic soil microbial communities – including microbial community
   structure, diversity, function, and activity.
   - Integrate the biological findings with soil geochemical and physical
   properties (by working with the wider SUN SPEARS and using sensor data
   (year-round soil temperature, moisture, geochemistry)).
   - Analyze datasets emerging from the SUN SPEARS project (including
   genomic and biogeochemical data from laboratory microcosms of Svalbard
   soils) to reveal the seasonally-varying processes affecting pioneer soil
   development.
   - Prepare results for publication in peer-reviewed academic journals (as
   lead author and co-author).


The PDRA will be embedded into a multidisciplinary team of microbial
ecologists, biogeochemists, modellers, and geophysicists, and thus develop
an interdisciplinary skill set. They will have access to a wealth of data
already generated by the project and will be expected to lead the analyses
of some of these data (primarily the biological and biogeochemical data)
and prepare manuscripts (as lead- and co-author) to submit to peer-reviewed
international journals.

Applicants must have a PhD (by time of appointment) in a relevant natural
science discipline (e.g. microbiology), and should have a background in
microbial ecology (ideally soil microbial ecology), experience in
bioinformatics and analyzing and interpreting metagenomic and/or
metatranscriptomic data, skills in statistical analyses of multivariate,
compositional microbiome data, and a track-record of research productivity.
We are particularly interested in candidates who can work across
disciplines and analyze large datasets, for example: to integrate
biological/genomic data with biogeochemical measurements, soil geophysical
data, and Arctic soil development processes.

The post is based at the Mile End Campus in London. It is full time post
for 16 months with the possibility of extension subject to available funds
and the date of appointment, with an expected start date of 1st August
2023. The starting salary will be £40,223 (Grade 4) per annum pro-rata
inclusive of London Allowance.

Informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr. James Bradley at
james.bradley at qmul.ac.uk.

To apply for the role, please visit:
https://www.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/vacancies/items/8542.html

Applications should include:

   - A cover letter (max. 2 pages) stating your motivation for applying to
   this position, research interests, relevant skills, training and experience.
   - Curriculum vitae.
   - Copy of official transcript(s).
   - Contact information for at least two and up to 3 references.

Important: Please also email Dr. James Bradley (james.bradley at qmul.ac.uk)
to confirm your intention to apply.

The closing date for applications is 11 July 2023.

Interviews are expected to be held in mid-July or shortly thereafter.
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