Are you fascinated by how micro-organisms interact with each other and with eukaryotic hosts? Are you interested in the development of methods to identify and obtain novel micro-organisms in culture? Then join the Department of Microbiology as a PhD candidate!

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are becoming more and more important for the sustainable cultivation of aquatic animals. A major challenge in these systems is the accumulation of nitrogenous animal waste products in the water (e.g. ammonium from fish waste), which can lead to decreased welfare. These nitrogenous compounds can be removed from the water by specialised biofilters which harbour nitrogen-cycling micro-organisms that convert these compounds into di-nitrogen gas. In addition to this, we discovered that fish have symbiotic nitrogen-cycle organisms in their gills which also convert excreted ammonium directly into di-nitrogen gas, thereby functioning as a natural, built-in biofilter.

In this PhD project, you will develop new methods to selectively study and isolate these nitrogen-cycling micro-organisms. You will study these micro-organisms in the biofilters as well as in the fish gills to, on the one hand, study their physiology and interactions within the biofilter system, and, on the other hand, investigate the precise nature of the interactions of the symbionts with their fish host, and of the nitrogen-cycling micro-organisms among each other. All in all, this project will increase our understanding of this unique host-microbe interaction and contribute to the development of a more sustainable aquaculture.

Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your working time.

• You are enthusiastic, curious and open-minded.
• You have a keen interest in host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions.
• You hold a Master's degree in Microbiology, Biology, Molecular Life Sciences, or a related field.
• Prior experience in microbiology research and bioinformatics is advantageous.
• You are proficient in English and have good communication skills.
• You can work independently as well as in a team.
• You have statistical and data analysis skills.

Fixed-term contract: You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract).

• It concerns an employment for 1.0 FTE.
• The gross starting salary amounts to €2,541 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,247 in the fourth year  (salary scale P).
• You will receive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract).
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment and help your family settle in Nijmegen.
• Working for us means getting extra days off. In case of full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the legally allotted 20.

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

The Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES) aims to perform world-leading research in order to understand the response of the natural environment to human impact. Researchers within RIBES are working on the overarching research mission 'Towards Healthy Ecosystems', with four focus areas: I. Macronutrients and chemicals of emerging concern, II. Physical conditions: understanding responses and adaptation mechanism to stressors, III. Biodiversity decline and recovery of ecological communities, and IV. Mitigation of greenhouse gasses. With this knowledge, RIBES contributes to mitigating ecosystem degradation and finding solutions to restore the natural environment. Research at RIBES encompasses three major groups of organisms, namely micro-organisms, plants and animals, and spans nearly all levels of biological organisation. The institute is organised in four departments: Ecology, Physiology, Environmental Science, and Microbiology.

The Microbiology department comprises an enthusiastic and devoted team of academics who closely collaborate in a flat organisational structure. Harmonious and productive collaboration and synergy are key to our success. We have state-of-the-art equipment for sequencing and data analysis, light and electron microscopy, a large bioreactor facility as well as infrastructure for anaerobic microbiology, and facilities for biochemical, molecular and physiological work. Our mission is to conduct research at the forefront of microbial ecology and physiology with the main aim of understanding the diversity of micro-organisms responsible for the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and carbon (methane). In close collaboration with other RIBES groups and external partners, we pay special attention to host-microbe interactions. In addition, in close collaboration with stakeholders and industrial and other partners, we collaborate on the development of microbial applications in sustainable drinking water production and wastewater treatment systems in order to remove nitrogen, methane and micropollutants (CEC). We focus on four research themes:
1. Nitrogen cycle microbiology
2. Carbon/methane cycle microbiology
3. Host-microbe interactions
4. Bioremediation

We contribute to the collaboration on these four themes through our expertise in metabolomics, cell biology and biochemistry, environmental microbiology, biotechnology, microbial physiology, and bioinformatics.

Radboud University
At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. Will you also contribute to making the world a little better? You have a part to play.
 
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