PhD Position on Isotopomer Studies of Plant-climate Interactions, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umea University, Sweden

Little is known on interactions between plants and atmospheric and climate change on time scales of centuries. The goal of the project is to deduce separate climate and physiological signals from tree rings, to be able to detect these interactions. We have developed an approach to measure isotopomer abundances (i.e. the intramolecular distributions of stable isotopes in metabolites), by NMR spectroscopy. Isotopomers turn isotope abundances into multiple information channels, as basis for parallel reconstruction of climate and physiological signals. The PhD project will focus on the deuterium isotope, applied to tree ring series and material from annual plants. The research environment includes chemists, earth scientists, and forest ecology.

Qualifications:
Applicants must have a master’s degree in chemistry, earth sciences or a related field. We seek a person who is highly motivated to combine methodology from several fields. Key qualifications for this position include experience in handling environmental samples and familiarity with isotope concepts; experience in NMR spectroscopy is a merit.

The PhD project can start immediately or upon agreement. Applications should include CV, a short statement of motivation, copies of master’s degree and thesis, and names and addresses of three persons willing to act as references.

For more information contact:

Prof. Jürgen Schleucher
Department of Medical Biochemistry & Biophysics
Umeå University, S-90187 Umeå, Sweden
jurgen.schleucher[ at ]chem.umu.se