University of Gothenburg announces ten research student positions linked to the multidisciplinary
Graduate school in marine environmental research
This research school is run by Gothenburg Centre for Marine Research (under the Centre for Environment and Sustainability). The research student positions are part of five multidisciplinary projects each including two research students from different faculties (disciplines). The research within all projects aims to support a sustainable use and management of marine resources.
The graduate school will recruit in total 14 research students (7 pairs) during the period June 2011-January 2012, and a coordinator of the school will be appointed. Each research student will be affiliated to a "home department" (the department of the supervisor) and be examined in accordance with the rules of the department. Research students and their supervisors of the graduate school are expected to take part of seminars, workshops and similar activities arranged by the school. The two students and the two (or more) supervisors within a project should collaborate to the extent that at least one multidisciplinary (co-authored) manuscript or conference paper is provided.
Below follows a detailed description of the five projects, including the individual research student positions hereby announced.
Applications
Each position should be applied for with a separate set of application documents. All applications should be sent electronically to Registrator at University of Gothenburg, anstallning@gu.se. The application should be a single pdf with appendices as separate additional pdfs. (If an applicant wants to be considered for more than one position in marine ecology, separate applications should be sent for each position.)
It is important to indicate the reference number of the announcement and which of the ten positions is applied for in the title of the mail.
Deadline for the application is Monday, March 5th 2012. 2/16
PROJECT 5: Antibiotic resistance in marine bacteria: The role of biocides and metals in the marine environment for promoting and maintaining antibiotic resistance
According to the WHO, the rapid development of multi-resistant bacteria is one of the three largest threats to public health globally as it severely impairs our possibilities to treat infectious diseases. In Europe only, resistant bacteria killed 25,000 people last year. The heavy use of antibiotics is the major driver behind this development. In EU concern has been raised by SCENIHR (Scientific Committee for Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks) regarding the observation that antibiotic resistance sometimes can be selected for by exposure also to other chemicals, such as metals or biocides. There are two known categories of molecular mechanisms to explain these observations:
- co-resistance, when by the presence of resistance or tolerance genes for both antibiotics and other chemicals are located in close genetic vicinity of each-other on mobile plasmids and therefore transferred together
- cross-resistance, when the individual resistance mechanisms (such as efflux pumps) show a broader specificity.
The efficiency of resistance mechanisms as well as the gene transfer will determine how serious the consequences will be.
Selection pressures that favour development and spreading of resistance against metals (e.g. copper and silver), and biocides (e.g. desinfectants, antimicrobials, preservatives) will thus affect the occurrence also of antibiotic resistance. Sofar the focus has been on antibiotic use in medicine and veterinary medicine. Both the important arenas and responsibilities will now expand. Every site where metals or biocides (regulated by The Swedish Chemicals Agency, KemI) are used or occur together with bacteria is now a potential arena where antibiotic resistance can be promoted. Even stronger risks will emerge when favoured genes can be transferred to human pathogens in contact with humans. Of obvious concern from a health perspective are drinking water, food, live-stock keeping, fish and sea-food cultures, kitchen environments, swimming pools and outdoor bathing places.
The outdoor environments (e.g. the coastal zone) are also contaminated by metals, biocides and antibiotics. Selection pressure from these groups of chemicals – alone or together – suggests that that the coastal environments will become grounds for development or maintenance of antibiotic resistance. It is important that the extent and mechanisms behind the processes are clarified.
The aim is to clarify (1) what antibiotic resistance genes (known and novel) are present in marine environments?(2) if exposure to biocides and metals select for resistance to antibiotics in marine bacterial communities?(3) the genetic basis behind such co- or cross-resistance in marine bacteria. (4) whether antibiotic resistance genes are favoured and hitchhike on ship hulls under the selection pressure from antifouling paints?
We will combine controlled microcosm experiments with field studies of contaminated and more pristine marine environments. The DNA of complex bacterial communities will be analyzed by the most modern massively parallel next generation sequencing technologies, and functional metagenomics will be used to identify novel resistance or tolerance factors. Pollution-Induced Community Tolerance (PICT) will be employed to assess the selection pressure for metals, biocides and antibiotics in marine microbial biofilms. Advanced sequencing protocols will enable the assessment of genetically-linked co-resistance. The competence and experience of the two hosting groups, places us in a unique position to combine medicine and infectious diseases with marine pollution and microbial ecotoxicology, meeting at the interface of microbial ecology and bioinformatics. The research will provide important input to environmental regulatory bodies, health care, and the marine shipping sectors.
5A. Ph.D. student position in Environmental Science
Ref. Nr. U 2011/701
The position will be placed at the Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science. The department performs research and teaching both at the main campus in Gothenburg and at the two marine research stations at Tjärnö and at Kristineberg. The research at the department covers a broad selection of topics including ecotoxicology, ecology and conservation, systematic and biodiversity, plant cell & molecular biology, and ecophysiology and biogeochemistry (for more information see www.dpes.gu.se).
Third cycle education
This education leads to a Ph.D. in Natural Sciences with a specialization in Biology or Environmental Sciences. It comprises four years of full time study at the post graduate level. The time period can be extended to up to five years in total through teaching and/or other departmental duties. The student will be employed at the Department Plant & Environmental Sciences including full benefits.
Qualifications
The applicant should have a specialization in aquatic ecotoxicology with an exam at undergraduate level within biology or environmental sciences with at least 240 hp, of which 60 hp at advanced level within ecotoxicology (or equivalent).
Criteria
The applicant should have strong theoretical and practical background in experimental ecotoxicology, and an expressed interest to work with multidisciplinary research questions related to ecotoxicology of the marine environment. Candidates with documented experience of field or microcosm studies and methods relevant for the described project will be prioritized. Ability and interest to acquire new empirical and theoretical knowledge with regards to the action and tolerance mechanisms of biocides in the marine environment is also important. The successful candidate will also have a documented ability to work independently and collaborate in larger research groups. Good communication skills (written and spoken) in English are strong merits.
Application documents
- An attested list of qualifications (CV).
- Copy of examination certificates.
- Transcript of courses with grades.
- Copy of master thesis (or equivalent), and if relevant other scientific publications.
- A reference letter and contact information for references that are familiar with the applicant’s qualifications.
- Documentation of English proficiency.
- A short cover letter (1-2 A4 page, written in English) concerning the applicant’s motivation for the research and ambitions and approach towards PhD studies. Here the applicant should motivate why he/she should be selected for the position.
For more information regarding the project please contact the main supervisor, Prof. Hans Blanck:
Phone: +46 (0)31-786 2609, e-mail: hans.blanck@dpes.gu.se
For general questions regarding the department or Ph.D. positions, please contact the Head of the department, Göran Wallin:
Phone: +46 (0)31-7862620, E-mail: goran.wallin@dpes.gu.se
Trade union representatives:
SACO Martin Björkman, 031-786 3608
SEKO Lennart Olsson, 031-786 1173
OFR-S Stefan Schedin, 031-786 1167