The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.
OCE Postdoctoral Fellowship - Climate change impacts on phytoplankton
Division:
Flagship Programs
Location:
Melbourne, VIC
Classification:
CSOF4 to CSOF4
Salary Range:
$65K - $72K plus Superannuation
Tenure:
3 year term
Applicants:
International Applicants Welcome
Relocation Assistance:
May be offered to the successful applicant.
Applications Close:
13 Jun 2008
Job Category:
Post Doctoral/Fellowship Scientific Research
Understanding how the marine phytoplankton will respond to environmental change like ocean acidification and global warming is crucial to projecting how these environmental changes will impact marine ecosystems. We are seeking a Post Doctorial fellow to generate the essential fundamental understanding of how phytoplankton respond to various factors of environmental change (e.g. ocean acidification and global warming) from which we can develop models and project the impacts of environmental change on the marine ecosystems. The fellow will interact with phytoplankton ecophysiologists and marine carbon cycle modellers to help deliver improve projections of the impact of environmental change on marine ecosystems.
The candidate will use chemostat systems, with dark/light cycles to grow algae under various environmental conditions (e.g. differing CO2 levels, temperature and nutrient levels). From the culture experiments, detailed physiological measurements would be performed such as:
Determination of the affinity of cells for inorganic carbon uptake
Determination of the preferred form of carbon (bicarbonate or CO2) for uptake by 14C measurements of isotopic disequilibrium.
Estimation of the nutrient-uptake capacity and kinetics of individual species and mixed populations.
Measurement of the activity and levels of crucial enzymes in C and N metabolism under different climate change scenarios
Estimation of the internal C:N:P ratios and possible consequences to the food-web.
Experiments on cultures of single species will be supplemented by studies on mixed species assemblages of natural populations.
The Fellow would be expected to act independently and to have a major intellectual input into the project and its development. In particular it is important that the Fellow be able to liaise with model development and help forge the important links between generating ecophysiological information and applying them to models. The Fellow would be expected to develop “ownership” of the project and take a primary role (lead authorship) in writing up material for publication. It is expected that the Fellow would also interact
Our planet is currently undergoing major changes to its climate, which is seeing an exponential rise in atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases, and associated increases in temperature. Concurrently, fluxes of UVB radiation are also increasing, particularly (but not exclusively) at higher latitudes. These changes in the global environment, which are occurring at rates unsurpassed in geological history, are likely to have severe repercussions on marine primary producers and ecosystems.
The future climate change effects on oceanic phytoplankton are unlikely to be due to any one environmental element, but will be a product of interactions between several individual factors. This project will investigate the consequences of interactive effects of climate change factors, especially elevated CO2, and nutrient limitation in oceanic phytoplankton. The information that will derive from this project will provide much-needed data to inform and strengthen models that are currently being used to examine the consequences of global climate change in oceanic systems.
Applicants must address the selection criteria. Applicants that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered. To assist you prepare your application please read the information available at "Guidelines for Applicants"
Essential:
Experience with techniques for growing phytoplankton in batch and continuous cultures.
Familiarity with physiological techniques including oxygen exchange (optodes/O2 electrodes), PAM fluorescence and radioactive tracers.
HPLC analysis of pigments.
Expertise in microalgal identification and taxonomy.
Experience in wet chemistry analysis of algal cell composition and chemical analyses of nutrients.
Experience in assays for relevant enzyme activity and levels.
Desired:
An understanding of seawater inorganic carbon chemistry and experience with its modulation under elevated CO2 scenarios.
Experience with UVB and its measurement.
An understanding of the mechanisms used by algae for the acquisition of inorganic carbon.
**Note that to be eligible for consideration for appointment to a Post Doctoral fellowship within CSIRO an applicant’s total relevant work experience, on completion of the fellowship at CSIRO, must not exceed six full-time equivalent years since confirmation of their doctorate.
Before you apply ensure that your documents are in Text, MS Word or PDF. Ensure your file is not larger than 1MB in PDF format, or 2MB for all other formats. Your Documents will be converted into PDF format.
CSIRO prefers applications be lodged online via this careers site.
You are required to include two documents:(1) A document Addressing the "Selection Criteria" and
(2) A "Resume or CV" including the names of at least two referees.
Note: Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered.
If you experience difficulties applying online call 1300 301 509 and someone will be able to assist you. Outside business hours please email: csiro-careers@csiro.au
If you are unable to lodge your application online, please fax your application (quoting reference number 2008/390) to +61 2 6246 4455 or alternatively post to:
CSIRO Careers Online
PO Box 225
DICKSON ACT 2602
Contact: Should you require more information on this position please contact Richard Matear via email at Richard.Matear @csiro.au
