PhD position in extracellular electron transfer mechanisms of Shewanella

Applicants are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Biological and Chemical Engineering programme. The position is available from 1 October 2024 or later. You can submit your application via the link under 'how to apply'. Title
PhD position in extracellular electron transfer mechanisms of Shewanella Research area and project description
Electrotrophs are microorganisms with the extraordinary capacity to feed on electrons derived from electrodes or steel. Such microorganisms are of interest for bioelectrochemical applications (e.g. to convert electric energy into useful compounds), while electrotrophs also cause detrimental microbial corrosion. This PhD position will use Shewanella strains as model electrotrophs and will investigate how these bacteria obtain electrons from an electrode or steel. The key hypothesis of this project is that H2 is the key intermediate in the extracellular electron transfer mechanism. The PhD candidate will investigate this hypothesis by physiological studies and electrochemical characterizations. In addition, genetically altered strains will be tested, which will be created during an international research stay of the PhD candidate in the lab of Prof. Jeffrey Gralnick at the University of Minnesota, USA. In addition, the PhD candidate is expected to fulfil teaching and supervision tasks and contribute to result dissemination through writing publications and conference participation. This 3-year position is part of the Some-like-it-low project, funded by the Villum Foundation. The PhD candidate will work in the ‘Microbial Electrosynthesis’ research group, headed by Associate Professor Jo Philips. We form an international and interdisciplinary team with strong expertise in microbiology, biotechnology, electrochemistry and computational modelling. Our research group is part of the Section of Industrial Biotechnology at the Department of Biological and chemical Engineering at Aarhus University and is also related to the Novo Nordisk Foundation CO2 Research Center. We offer the PhD candidate dedicated supervision and a pleasant workplace characterized by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance. Project description. For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. Please simply copy the project description above and upload it as a PDF in the application. Qualifications and specific competences
We are looking for talented and motivated applicants with a Master’s degree in Microbiology, Biotechnology, or another discipline with a relevant specialization.

• Practical experience with the cultivation of anaerobes, bioelectrochemical systems, or microbial induced corrosion, will be considered as a plus.
• Analytical and critical thinking and time management are essential skills to pursuit a PhD.
• Further requirements are English fluency, good oral and written communication skills and a collaborative mentality.
  
  

Place of employment and place of work
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Gustav Wieds Vej 10D, 8000 Aarhus C., Denmark Contacts
Applicants seeking further information are invited to contact:

• Jo Philips, (main supervisor)

How to apply
Please follow this link to submit your application. Application deadline is 31 July 2024 at 23:59 CEST Preferred starting date is 1 October 2024 For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide . Please note:

• Only documents received prior to the application deadline will be evaluated. Thus, documents sent after deadline will not be taken into account.
• The programme committee may request further information or invite the applicant to attend an interview.
• Shortlisting will be used, which means that the evaluation committee only will evaluate the most relevant applications.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.