Postdoctoral position on “Microbial behavior in soil” in Zürich

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Subsurface Environmental Processes Group (Eawag and ETH Zurich) and the Environmental Microfluidics Group (Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at ETH Zurich) are seeking a dynamic and motivated postdoctoral fellow for a project to study microbial ecology in soil analogues.

Soils are topologically complex and highly heterogeneous with regard to the spatial distribution of fluid flow velocities and chemical gradients. Soil microorganisms, and in particular bacteria, are therefore exposed to heterogeneous chemical landscapes. This project will focus on studying the influence of the spatial heterogeneity of nutrients and flow dynamics on bacteria swimming behavior and the population dynamics by determining the nature of interactions between species, combining microfluidics and advanced optical visualization techniques.

The project offers an opportunity to work in a highly interdisciplinary, cutting-edge environment, to interact with researchers from many different disciplines and to gain skills in a number of engineering approaches. The ability to work independently, but also to interact and collaborate within a team, will be great assets. The project will be jointly supervised by Dr. Joaquin Jimenez-Martinez (Eawag and ETH) and Prof. Roman Stocker (ETH).

The successful candidate will have a PhD in biology, physics, biophysics, engineering or a related subject. Knowledge of optical microscopy and microfluidics would be beneficial. The candidate should enjoy working experimentally at the interface between biology, soft matter and physics and help advise junior scientists on experimental.

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.