PhD Position, Modeling microbial degradation in soil (UFZ, Leipzig)

The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) with its 1,100 employees has gained an excellent reputation as an international competence centre for environmental sciences. We are part of the largest scientific organisation in Germany, the Helmholtz association. Our mission: Our research seeks to find a balance between social development and the long-term protection of our natural resources.

In a framework of 10 Integrated Projects (IPs) scientists address key environmental challenges following a solution-oriented approach. In order to strengthen its interdisciplinary work, UFZ is currently offering 12 PhD positions. One position will be dedicated to the following subject:

PhD position (m/f)
Subject: Modeling microbial degradation in soil
Project start: 1st July 2017, working time 50% (19,5 h/week); limited for three years
Your tasks:

Predicting the fate of organic chemicals in natural soils is challenged by the complex interplay between the properties of the chemicals and the high spatio-temporal variability of environmental conditions in soils. This project will meet this challenge by using an advanced numerical reactive transport modeling approach to determine the influence of soil matrix properties on the microbial degradation of organic chemicals.

The PhD student will

Expand an established pore network model to address the specific project questions
Apply the expanded model for the simulation of the fate of bioreactive chemicals in heterogeneous soil systems
Determine the governing factors controlling effective in-situ biodegradation rates in soils

Please find more information: https://goo.gl/p4d5yk

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Von:

Martin Schröder
martin.schroeder@ufz.de
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH - UFZ
Leipzig

Ansprechpartner: Martin Schröder