Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART carries out research for environmentally compatible and economically competitive farming. We combine ecology, economics and agricultural engineering in a holistic approach and create scientific knowledge and decision-making tools for agriculture, government authorities and society. Within the National Research Programme "Opportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials" (NRP64), ART and the Federal Office for Agriculture conduct the project “Effects of nanoparticles on beneficial soil microbes and crops (NANOMICROPS)” (for further details, see http://www.nfp64.ch). For this project, we seek two PhD students to provide data for risk evaluation of agricultural nanoparticle (NP) applications.
Position
The successful candidates will establish and conduct NP exposure, fate and effect studies from laboratory cultures over controlled pot experiments to lysimeter studies with real soils. Two agricultural crops (i.e., wheat and clover) and two groups of symbiontic soil microbes (i.e, rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) will be used. NP potentially relevant for the agro-environment (e.g., TiO2, carbon nanotubes) will be added in increasing concentrations.
PhD student 1 will focus on the development of several analytical methods to determine the fate and behavior of NP in soil, soil leachate, microbes, and plants.
PhD student 2 will investigate the effects of NP on crop productivity and on beneficial plant symbionts. The data will eventually be used for a joint risk assessment.
Requirements / Conditions
For PhD student 1, we seek candidates with a Masters in environmental and/or analytical chemistry, biogeo-chemistry or related disciplines. Thorough experience in analytical method development and NP characterization is an asset.
For PhD student 2, we seek candidates with a Masters in agronomy, biology or microbiology. Further requirements are a solid background in ecotoxicology. Both students should express a sincere interest in nanotechnology, soil science and agro-ecological research, and be able to work in a team. Excellent knowledge in spoken/written English and basic knowledge of German are required.
We offer the opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary research team addressing a variety of topics such as trace analysis, and agro-environmental research. Well equipped state-of-the-art analytical, microbiological and molecular biology laboratories are at disposal.
The duration of contract is 3 years. The working place will be at Agroscope ART research station Reckenholz at Zurich-Affoltern, Switzerland. The salary is according to the guidelines of the SNF Swiss National Science Foundation. Start of work will be March 2011.
Application
Please send your application containing a complete academic record, CV, certificates and a short description of research interests to:
Forschungsanstalt Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART, Fachgruppe Personal, Thomas Zehnder, Code “NANOMICROPS_PhD 1“ or „NANOMICROPS PhD 2“, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH-8046 Zürich,
Email: human_resources@art.admin.ch.
For further information, please contact Dr. Thomas Bucheli,
Head of Organic Trace Analysis Group, phone +41 44 377 73 42, thomas.bucheli@art.admin.ch
Deadline for application is: January 31, 2011
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