11 full-time MSCA PhD positions on Mixotrophy in Marine Plankton are available across Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Spain and the UK

The positions, offered within the scope of the H2020-MSCA-ITN MixITiN project, cover a wide range of topics within plankton research. Please apply separately for ALL positions for which you have an interest.

Position 1: Functional and comparative genomics to study regulatory and metabolic processes in mixotrophs (AWI, Germany)

Position 2: Ecophysiology of key species of constitutive mixotrophs including those contributing to harmful algal blooms (HABs) (Copenhagen University, Denmark)

Position 3: Top down control of marine protists by mixotrophs (CSIC, Spain)

Position 4: Oceanic Greenhouses (UPMC, Roscoff, France)

Position 5: Ciliate mixotrophy in the ultra-oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean (HCMR, Greece)

Position 6: Life in planktonic greenhouses; a systems dynamics approach (Swansea University, UK)

Position 7: Ecophysiology of key species of general non-constitutive mixotrophs (Copenhagen University, Denmark)

Position 8: Trophodynamics of the cryptophyte-Mesodinium–Dinophysis complex (Swansea University, UK)

Position 9: Interactions between mixotrophs and their predators (CSIC Barcelona, Spain)

Position 10: The role of mixotrophy in ecosystem dynamics (Universite Libre De Bruxelles, Belgium)

Position 11: Coastal water management under the mixotrophic plankton paradigm (Deltares, Netherlands)

Development of management tools and policies to predict fish production and global change in marine waters operates within a paradigm that builds on a simple division between “plant-like” phytoplankton and their main consumers, the “animal-like” microzooplankton at the base of the food chain. Recently research shows that most phytoplankton and as much as half the microzooplankton actually combine both plant-like photosynthesis and animal-like consumer activity within the same single-cell. This form of nutrition, “mixotrophy”, supports the growth of organisms important for food chains and biogeochemical cycles removing atmospheric CO2; mixotrophs are also causative agents in harmful algal bloom events. As a consequence of this revised paradigm, traditional laboratory and field research approaches, management policies and allied computer modelling tools, are arguably no longer fit for purpose.

Highlights from these positions include:

MixITiN will train 11 early stage researchers (ESRs), registered for PhDs, in skill sets from molecular biology, ecophysiology and computer modelling, to environmental management, public and media engagement. The ESRs will be trained in multi-national and multi-disciplinary centres of excellence, with comprehensive engagement of academics as well as non-academics, to enable them to gain employment in a range of different sectors such as consultancy, government, academic, or allied industries. The synergy of training approaches provided to the ESRs will raise their capabilities and progress the field beyond the current state-of-the-art.

Application deadline: as soon as possible, and ideally before 1st Jan 2018.

Expected start date: March 1st 2018

Note: according to EC rules, candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.