Postdoctoral position on “Biophysical interactions in microbial communities” in Zürich

The Environmental Microfluidics Group of Prof. Roman Stocker at the Institute of Environmental Engineering of ETH Zurich is seeking a dynamic and motivated postdoctoral researcher to work on biophysical interactions in microbial communities, with a focus on marine bacteria and phytoplankton. Funding for this position is available for at least three years.

Biophysical interactions are key to the assembly and functioning of microbial communities. Encounter processes determine the rate at which different microorganisms come in contact with each other and with prominent resource patches such as sinking particles. Motility and chemotaxis drive associations between different microorganisms, for example allowing bacteria to find and retain position within the nutrient-rich region surrounding individual phytoplankton cells (the ‘phycosphere’). Attachment mechanisms can be an important and hitherto underappreciated phenotype in shaping symbioses between different microorganisms. Diffusion processes drive the transport and exchange of metabolites between microorganisms. Finally, fluid flow shapes the spatial arrangement of microorganisms and their resources, contributing to encounter dynamics and influencing the interaction processes in microbial communities.

In this project, you will work primarily on biophysical interactions driving or maintaining symbioses between bacteria and phytoplankton in the ocean. Phytoplankton as the main primary producers and bacteria as the main heterotrophic consumers represent two of the most abundant and biogeochemically important groups of microorganisms in the ocean. Their interactions are key to both ecosystem-level processes (e.g. demise of algal blooms) and global biogeochemical processes (e.g. the carbon cycle and ultimately climate regulation). There is increasing evidence that the association between these organisms can be beneficial for both partners, with phytoplankton providing carbon and bacteria providing limiting resources (e.g. vitamins), resulting in symbiosis. Yet, the nature, dynamics, stability and efficiency of these interactions remain largely unknown, chiefly because of the challenges in directly observing these processes at the single-cell level. In the Stocker lab, we have developed a suite of tools to directly assay microbial interactions through microfluidics and time-resolved imaging, which we are now leveraging to understand interactions in microbial communities, including symbiosis.

The focus of the postdoctoral researcher will be on experimental research to advance our understanding of microbial symbioses. You have a strong track record of experimental research, a highly quantitative background, ideally in physics, engineering, biophysics or related disciplines, and a keen desire to work in a highly interdisciplinary environment at the interface between biophysics, microbiology, and microbial ecology. Prior exposure to biological research, ideally on microorganisms, will be a strong plus. The researcher will have the opportunity to work in a cutting-edge, fast-paced research environment, to interact with researchers from many different disciplines, to learn about fundamental biophysical and ecological processes in microorganisms and to interact with world-class collaborators. The ability to work independently, come up with creative and innovative solutions, work collaboratively and communicate clearly will be fundamental.

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