PhD Position (f/m/d)
We invite applications for three PhD positions within our interdisciplinary DFG-funded Collaborative Research Center 1357 Microplastics at the University of Bayreuth. The positions are limited to 31.12.2026. The salary is in accordance with the German Public Service salary scale (TV-L E13).
3 PhD Positions (m/f/d) CRC 1357 Microplastics
The CRC 1357 project:
DFG-funded Collaborative Research Centres (CRC) are prestigious university-based research institutions, established for up to 12 years, in which researchers work together within a multidisciplinary research programme. The interdisciplinary CRC Microplastics bridges traditional disciplinary boundaries and brings together over 140 scientists from the fields of Biology, Chemistry, Polymer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics and Earth Sciences.
The goal of the CRC Microplastics is to gain a fundamental understanding of the processes and mechanisms that
1) condition biological effects of MP in limnetic and terrestrial ecosystems as a function of the physical and chemical properties of the particles,
2) influence the migration behavior of MP particles and
3) cause the formation of MP starting from macroscopic plastics.
These findings provide a scientifically sound basis for assessing the environmental risks of microplastics, as well as for developing environmentally friendly plastics and processes to prevent the emission of microplastics into the environment. As a doctoral researcher within the CRC 1357 you profit from an interdisciplinary team, working on an application-oriented research field and you can contribute answering fundamental questions. All PhD students will receive an individual and interdisciplinary qualification through the University of Bayreuth Graduate School and the structured BayNAT - PhD Program Interdisciplinary Microplastics Sciences, that will link all PhD candidates studying microplastics from all participating disciplines.
Your general profile:
The CRC microplastic comprises a multidisciplinary team of enthusiastic researchers in which all PhDs are embedded. If you would like to be part of our team, you require:
- an excellent master degree in biology, chemistry, or environmental sciences, depending on the position you are applying for.
- enjoy working independently and in a structured manner as well as collaborating with an interdisciplinary team on a highly topical and socially relevant subject
- show an above-average level of commitment, high flexibility, resilience and team-spirit
- very good knowledge of English (written and spoken).
- experience in microplastics research is preferred but not mandatory.
For more information about the specific requiremesns of the offered positions please have a look at the short descriptions below.
Applications:
The link to submit your online application through the UBT application portal or the application portals of the external partner institutes as well as more information on application deadlines and contact persons for the specific position you find in the short descriptions below:
- PhD Position - Biological Effects (Project A01) funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)Hide
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This project offers PhD candidates to investigate how properties of microplastic particles compared to natural particulate material determine the effects on limnetic model organisms. A further focus will be on the effects on biotic interactions such as predator-prey and parasite-host interactions as well as food web dynamics. This PhD project includes laboratory and mesocosm studies and will apply state-of-the-art methods to study the effects from the molecular to the ecosystem level.
Profile: The successful candidate should have solid knowledge in experimental biology. Additional experience in ecotoxicology and ecological studies is advantageous.
Project: A01 - Effects of microparticles on aquatic model macrofauna depending on particle properties: Comparison of microplastics to natural particles
Place of employment: Animal Ecology Group at the University of Bayreuth, Germany.
Start date: 15th April 2024More info: Description Project A01
Application: UBT Application Portal
Contact person: christian.laforsch@uni-bayreuth.de, Phone: +49 921-55-2650 - PhD Position - Transport of microplastics in natural soils (Project B06) funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)Hide
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With this project candidates can investigate the transport of microplastic particles in natural soils and on soil surfaces. Transport behaviour will be studied depending on their physical and chemical properties. Moreover experiments on microplastic transport via bioturbation of different terrestrial model organisms are in focus. Methods planned for this project are in-situ visualization of MP transport via µCT and microscopic techniques. The PhD candidate will optimize the present methodological spectroscopic pipeline for particle-based microplastic identification in soil samples and expand it towards small microplastics.
Profile: the successful candidate should have solid knowledge environmental sciences. Good experimental skills and an interest in analytical techniques.
Project: B06: Behaviour and transport of microplastics in disturbed and undisturbed soils
Place of employment: Animal Ecology Group at the University of Bayreuth, Germany.
Start date: 15th April 2024More info: Project Area B
Application: UBT Application Portal
Contact person: martin.loeder@uni-bayreuth.de, Phone: +49 921 55 2209 - PhD Position - funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) / associated with SFB1357 - A01 ProjectHide
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With this project candidates study the risk assessment of particulate pollutants, such as microplastics in water and soil. The generation, selection and testing a set of well-defined natural reference particles is the basis for the risk assement studies. To test the suitability of reference particles ecotoxicological tests with organisms from different environmental compartments (water, sediment, soil) are part of this project. PhD candidates will be strongly associated and in intensive exchange with the project partners and related projects of the collaborative research Centre SFB 1357 Microplastics.
Profile: The successful candidate should have solid knowledge in experimental biology. Additional experience in ecotoxicology and ecological studies is advantageous.
Project: DBU Funded Project associated with the CRC 1357 project A01 -Effects fo microparticles on aquatic model macrofauna depending on particle properties
Place of employment: Animal Ecology Group of the University of Bayreuth, Germany,Start date: 15th April 2024
More info: Description Project A01
Application: UBT Application Portal
Contact person: christian.laforsch@uni-bayreuth.de, Phone: +49 921-55-2650