A 2-year post-doc position is available in the field of geochemistry, sedimentology and geomicrobiology. The project addresses the role of microbial processes in formation of biological sediments and their evidence (i.e., biominerals) in the fossil record. A background in geomicrobiology/geochemistry with a specialty in microbe-mineral interactions, carbonate mineralogy, stable isotopes geochemistry (preferably of C, N, S, Fe) and/or microbial ecophysiology is desired.
The project addresses the role of microbial processes in formation of biological sediments and their evidence (i.e., biominerals) in the fossil record. We seek to link microbial interactions in modern microbialite systems (lithifying microbial mats) with carbonate mineral precipitation and mineral morphology, fabric alteration during post-depositional alteration (early diagenesis) and preservation of geochemical (e.g., isotopic) signatures in deep time.
The research encompasses microbial organosedimentary ecosystems, both unlithified and lithified, in continental aquatic systems (ranging from freshwater to hypersaline lakes, lagoons and rivers) as well as in open marine ecosystems and focuses on extrinsic and intrinsic constraints of microbialite development, including water chemistry, climate, tectonics, geological context, microbial composition, metabolic activity and interactions as well as organic matrix properties. Laboratory experimentation (with intact systems and microbial isolates) will focus on the specific role of physicochemical conditions (e.g., T°, pCO2, pH, Ca2+, Mg2+, light quality) on the extent, rate, efficiency and ultimately the mechanisms of microbialite growth. Our approach includes investigation of the organic (e.g., exopolymeric substance) and inorganic composition of microbialites, notably isotopic signatures, as well as of mineral morphology, microbialite fabric, characterization of the depositional environments (from macro- to nano-scale) and microbial characteristics. The project involves fieldwork and sample analyses (e.g., using IRMS, NANO-SIMS, XRD, scanning electron, confocal laser, Raman and cathodoluminescence microscopy), laboratory experimentation as well as geochemical modeling (e.g., Geochemist Workbench; FREEQC).
Host Laboratory: Biogeosciences, Unité mixte CNRS/UB 6282
The BIOGEOSCIENCES laboratory is a Mixed Research Unit (UMR) composed of about a hundred people whose employers are the University of Burgundy, the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (EPHE) and AgroSup Dijon.
Supervisor(s): Pieter Visscher (pieter.visscher@uconn.edu) and Emmanuelle Vennin (Emmanuelle.vennin@u-bourgogne.fr)
Application deadline: June 30th, 2018
For further information, check out the website: www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/jobs/645253-post-doc-geomicrobiology-of-modern-and-ancient-microbialites-dijon
or contact Emmanuelle Vennin (Pr UBFC- Emmanuelle.vennin@u-bourgogne.fr) and Pieter Visscher (U. Connecticut- pieter.visscher@uconn.edu).
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