Project Description: Drinking water systems represent a substrate limited and chronically stressed environment, yet this ecosystem is rich in microbial diversity. Drinking water microbes engage in a broad range of ecologically relevant strategies that enable them to not only survive in this "harsh" ecosystem, but under the right conditions also help them flourish. Identifying these microorganisms and investigating their survival strategies is critical towards better managing their impacts, both positive (e.g. pollutant removal) and negative (e.g. waterborne diseases). This project will focus on laboratory-based experiments using microbes harvested from drinking water systems to reveal microbe-microbe interactions under a range of relevant engineered conditions. Characterising these interactions will involve multi-species time-series reactor experiments coupled with suite of 'omic tools. The goal of this project is to translate fundamental insights of microbe-microbe interactions into engineering strategies for proactive management of microbial communities in drinking water systems.
About research group: The post-doctoral research associate (PDRA) will be based in Ameet Pinto’s group at the University of Glasgow. The group currently includes 3 PhD students and 1 post-doctoral research associate working on range of drinking water projects – from engineering to microbial ecology. We conduct our research in Environmental Biotechnology laboratory, which is shared between 4 principle investigators and has excellent state-of-the art facilities. We collaborate with research groups focussing on microbial communities from both fundamental and applied perspectives. We also work closely with drinking water companies in multiple countries. Hence, the PDRA will have excellent opportunities to network with academia and the drinking water industry.
Requirements: The candidate should have PhD degree in any environmental engineering, biological engineering, microbiology, or closely related disciplines prior to January 2015. Experience with designing and conducting reactor-based experiments involving mixed microbial communities is critical for this project. Prior experience with this need not be related only to engineered systems, but could include experience in other settings (e.g. soil microcosms). Experience with laboratory techniques for characterization of microbial communities (e.g. DNA/RNA based methods) and data analyses tools to process amplicon sequencing datasets from high-throughput DNA sequencing platforms is essential.
Desired technical skills: Prior experience with either of the following is highly desirable:
1. Isolation of difficult to cultivate organisms from aquatic environments.
2. Bioinformatics tools to analyze metagenomics datasets.
Desired mentoring experience: The PDRA will also be expected to mentor PhD students and undergraduate researchers in the laboratory. Hence, prior experience with mentoring of junior researchers will be beneficial.
Financials: The PDRA is expected to be appointed at Grade 7 – Spine Point 32 of the University of Glasgow payscale (£33,242 per annum + Benefits) for a minimum of 2 years – with possibility of extension for additional 1 year (contingent on availability of funding). Relocation allowance will be provided.
About research group: The post-doctoral research associate (PDRA) will be based in Ameet Pinto’s group at the University of Glasgow. The group currently includes 3 PhD students and 1 post-doctoral research associate working on range of drinking water projects – from engineering to microbial ecology. We conduct our research in Environmental Biotechnology laboratory, which is shared between 4 principle investigators and has excellent state-of-the art facilities. We collaborate with research groups focussing on microbial communities from both fundamental and applied perspectives. We also work closely with drinking water companies in multiple countries. Hence, the PDRA will have excellent opportunities to network with academia and the drinking water industry.
Requirements: The candidate should have PhD degree in any environmental engineering, biological engineering, microbiology, or closely related disciplines prior to January 2015. Experience with designing and conducting reactor-based experiments involving mixed microbial communities is critical for this project. Prior experience with this need not be related only to engineered systems, but could include experience in other settings (e.g. soil microcosms). Experience with laboratory techniques for characterization of microbial communities (e.g. DNA/RNA based methods) and data analyses tools to process amplicon sequencing datasets from high-throughput DNA sequencing platforms is essential.
Desired technical skills: Prior experience with either of the following is highly desirable:
1. Isolation of difficult to cultivate organisms from aquatic environments.
2. Bioinformatics tools to analyze metagenomics datasets.
Desired mentoring experience: The PDRA will also be expected to mentor PhD students and undergraduate researchers in the laboratory. Hence, prior experience with mentoring of junior researchers will be beneficial.
Financials: The PDRA is expected to be appointed at Grade 7 – Spine Point 32 of the University of Glasgow payscale (£33,242 per annum + Benefits) for a minimum of 2 years – with possibility of extension for additional 1 year (contingent on availability of funding). Relocation allowance will be provided.
