Context:
Soils host a huge biodiversity (microbes and fauna) of which our understanding remains very limited. Our lack of knowledge is related to: the small size of the soilborne organisms; their immense diversity; the difficulty in isolating them; and the great heterogeneity of their habitats across different scales. However, recent progress in the molecular characterization of soil biodiversity offers the exciting prospect of exploring its complexity and better understanding its functioning.
The EcoFINDERS (Ecological Function and Biodiversity Indicators in European Soils) project will result in: at the scientific level, increasing our knowledge of soil biodiversity and its role in ecosystem services across different soils, climate types and land uses at the technological level, the standardization of methods and operating procedures for characterizing soil biodiversity and functioning, and the development of bioindicators at the economic level, the assessment of the added value brought by cost-effective bioindicators, and of cost effectiveness of alternative ecosystem service maintenance policies.
Position:
A position of a postdoctoral scientist will be available starting April 1st at INRA Dijon for one year. Funding will be by the European Commission FP7 program (ECOFINDERS project, http://www.international.inra.fr/partnerships/ecofinders). The work will be performed in the Plant/Microbial Interactions department in the research group headed by Pr. D. Wipf and Pr. D. Redecker.
The task of the postdoctoral scientist will be to generate and process sequences of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi from large-scale field surveys (454 sequencing) and to develop neutral and functional gene markers to
assess diversity of AMF.
Requirements:
PhD. Demonstrated experience in microbial ecology, preferably involving mycorrhizal fungi. Experience using molecular techniques. Good command of scientific English. Motivation and teamworking abilities.
Interested candidates should apply for the position until February 22, 2012 by sending a motivation letter and a CV with publication list by Email to dirk.redecker@dijon.inra.fr.
Contact:
Pr. Dirk REDECKER
UMR 1347 Agroécologie, AgroSup/INRA/uB
Pôle Interactions Plantes-Microorganismes
BP 86510, 17 rue Sully, 21065 Dijon cedex, France