[Coral-List] New job opening PhD deep-sea sponge biology

Jasper de Goeij jmdegoeij at gmail.com
Thu Feb 4 10:41:35 EST 2016


Dear colleagues,


I would like to inform you about our newest job opening at the University
of Amsterdam:


*PhD-candidate in deep-sea sponge biology*



*Where?*

The Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) is one of
eight research institutes of the Faculty of Science at the University of
Amsterdam. The institute covers a wide range of subjects in both
fundamental and applied research. Our scientific studies aim at a better
understanding of the dynamics of ecosystems at all relevant levels, from
genes to climate change, using a truly multi- disciplinary approach.



*Project description*

PhD-project: Carbon cycling in deep-sea sponges

As part of EU Horizon2020 project:

SponGES - Deep-sea Sponge Grounds Ecosystems of the North Atlantic:

an integrated approach towards their preservation and sustainable
exploitation



Deep-sea sponge-dominated communities (grounds, aggregations and gardens)
form a variety of vulnerable marine ecosystems widespread throughout the
North Atlantic in areas such as shelves, slopes, seamounts, mid-ocean
ridges, canyons and fjords which often coincide with fishing and other
human activities. Their biodiversity, ecological importance and
biotechnological potential is assumed to be similar to or even higher than
other deep-sea ecosystems such as cold-water coral reefs or vents/seeps
systems. However, in contrast to those, sponge grounds have so far received
relatively little scientific or conservation attention.



The overall objective of SponGES is to develop an integrated
ecosystem-based concept for the preservation and sustainable exploitation
of vulnerable deep-sea sponge ecosystems of the North Atlantic.



One of the goals of SpongGES is to explore the function of the sponge
ground ecosystems and the goods and services they provide to the North
Atlantic system. The emerging view is that marine sponges play a relevant
role intertwining major marine biogeochemical cycles (Si, N, and C) and the
marine food web. The North Atlantic sponge grounds, characterized by large,
physiologically active sponges, offer an unparalleled, natural laboratory
to quantify for the first time the ecological significance of
sponge-mediated energy and nutrient fluxes to both the deep-sea ecosystem
and the regional balance of major biogeochemical cycles. In this
PhD-project you will quantify uptake, transfer, and release of dissolved
and particulate (in)organic carbon in deep-sea sponge species, along with
in situ organic and inorganic carbon fluxes and respiration from sponge
grounds.



*Requirements*

The PhD candidate must have:

-  MSc in Marine Ecology/Biology and/or Cell Biology;

-  Experience with laboratory and/or field experiments, preferably with
sponges or macro invertebrates;

-  Proven skills in scientific writing;

-  Interest to combine to theory, laboratory and field studies, and data
analysis;

-  Skills with statistical analysis is appreciated;

-  Experience in expedition-style fieldwork on research vessel is
appreciated;

-  Ability to work on a multidisciplinary topic in a multidisciplinary
research team;

-  Driving license.



*Further information*

Dr. ir. Jasper M. de Goeij:  j.m.degoeij at uva.nl



*Appointment*

The position will start preferably *1 April 2016*, or sooner. The full-time
appointment will be on a temporary basis for a maximum period of 4 years.
Initial appointment will be for a period of 12 months and after
satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4
years. The full-time gross monthly salary will range from €2,146 in the
first year to €2,744 in the final year, according to the Dutch salary
scales for PhD candidates. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch
Universities is applicable. The annual salary will be increased by 8%
holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.



*Job application*

Applications should include a detailed CV, a motivation letter, and the
names and contact addresses of two references from which information about
the candidate can be obtained.



Applications should be sent before *24 February 2016* to: j.m.degoeij at uva.nl



Interviews will be held in the *1st and 2nd week of March 2016*.



Cheers, Jasper.



______________________________

Dr. Ir. J.M. de Goeij

Department of Aquatic Environmental Ecology

Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics

University of Amsterdam

     ______________________________



Science Park 904

P.O. Box 94248, Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Tel.   +31 20 5258290

Mob. +31 6 52471433


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