Microbial Ecology Research Group
The research group Microbial Ecology is part of the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies (CEES) in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the University of Groningen. The group studies the adaptive strategies of prokaryotic microorganisms that allow these to survive in complex natural habitats. One of the topics focuses on the role of microbial diversity in ecosystem functioning. The research is strongly multidisciplinary and includes microbiology, ecology, molecular biology and plant physiology and ecology. The group provides a lively and internationally oriented scientific environment with excellent facilities.

Project
A major goal in general ecology is to understand the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning. Ecological theory predicts that ecosystems with a higher diversity of species are more productive and more stable in the face of stresses and environmental fluctuations. Amongst the different components of biodiversity, the diversity of functional traits of species in a community is considered to be the best predictor of the related ecosystem process. In this context, we recently used experimental communities of bacterial species to evaluate the role of bacterial functional diversity on community processes. Diversity had indeed a positive effect on community function and we were able to demonstrate the relevance of the complementarity of species for resource use capacity in shaping biodiversity- ecosystem functioning relationships. The main goal of this PhD project is to use a similar model system to address the role of bacterial diversity in respect of the stability of the communities. You will be responsible for designing experiments with bacterial communities to test theories related to the diversity-stability relationship. You will apply classical microbiological methods to determine community functioning. You will develop and apply molecular methods for the quantification of bacterial species, as well as statistical models to untangle the effects of diversity components on community stability. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Microbial Ecology center (UMR5557, Université Lyon1) in Lyon, France.

Requirements
You have a Masters degree or equivalent degree in microbiology/ microbial ecology, with a strong background in general ecology or in ecology with interest in working with microbial model systems. Experience with the application of molecular methods in the study of the complex communities is an advantage. The project is demanding and asks for dedication as well as a creative mind. Good proficiency of the English language is required. The Ph.D. candidate is expected to attend a few courses and to assist in teaching students at different levels (10% of time).

Additional information
For more information you may contact Dr Joana F. Salles
e-mail address: J.Falcao.Salles@ rug.nl

Additional information can be obtained through one of the following links.
o About the organization (http://www.rug. nl)
o (http://www.rug. nl/fwn/onderzoek /programmas/ biologie/ microbieleoecolo gie/index)

Conditions of employment
The university offers a salary of EUR 1633, to 2443,- gross (bruto) salary per month. Objective of the temporary 4 years position is to produce a number of research articles in highly ranked, peer-reviewed scientific journals, which will form the basis of the thesis leading to the granting of the Ph.D. degree (Dr.) at the University of Groningen. After the first year, there will be an evaluation as to the feasibility of successful completion of the Ph.D. thesis within the next 3 years.

Application
Letters written in English, including a personal motivation, a curriculum vitae, along with names and addresses (including telephone/fax and e-mail addresses) of three referees, are to be sent to:
Department of Microbial Ecology, University of Groningen
Biological Centre
Postbus 14
9750 AA Haren
The Netherlands

The position will be open until March, 15th.

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website link:
http://www.bccs. uib.no/positions

PhD position in fjord modelling at CMU, BCCS

A three-year PhD position is available at Unifob AS. The place of employment will be at Bergen Center for Computational Science (BCCS) within the Computational Mathematics Unit (CMU).

BCCS has approximately 50 employees counting 20 different nationalities. The center operates the high performance computing facilities of the University of Bergen, and has units within high-performance computing (Parallab), bioinformatics (CBU), and
mathematics (CMU). The staff at CMU consists of professors, senior scientists, scientists, post doctoral fellows, and PhD students. CMU carries out research funded by industry, research councils and the European Commission and currently focuses on problems within hydrodynamics and geophysics.

The PhD candidate will work on a project which is financed by the Research Council of Norway and is a collaboration between BCCS, the Department of Mathematics at the University of Bergen, Institute of Marine Research and Norwegian Institute for Water Research.

BCCS' part of the project aims to use 3d non-hydrostatic terrain following ocean general circulation models to investigate propagation of pathogens and food and faeces in Norwegian fjords connected to the fish farm industry. Special interests will be connected to identifying possible accumulation sites of pathogens and spreading of waste from the industry. The PhD candidate will perform process studies of fjords and assist in the development of model tools.

The applicant must have a master's degree in mathematics, geophysics, civil engineering or equivalent. The applicant must have a good background in mathematical/ numerical modelling preferably in geophysical hydrodynamics. Applicants must have good skills in English.

The PhD student will enter an approved programme leading to the degree of PhD within a time frame of three years. It is a prerequisite, however, that the formal admission requirements for the PhD programme are met before appointment can be made.

Salary in accordance with the Civil Service pay grade table scale for PhD students; currently NOK 353 200 gross per year; following ordinary meriting regulations. Unifob AS offers Group Pension Insurance and Personnel Insurance Scheme for their employees. The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at any time.

Applications containing

- a letter of motivation with statement of research interests,

- curriculum vitae,

- copies of relevant university-level diplomas with grade transcripts,

- names and contact information of 2-4 references

should be sent by e-mail to HR consultant Monika Voit (Monika.Voit@ bccs.uib. no) with copy to project leader Øyvind Thiem (Oyvind.Thiem@ bccs.uib. no).

Applications which do not include all required documents will not be considered. It is assumed that we have the applicant's permission to contact the references named in the application.

Evaluation of applicants will commence February 23rd 2009 and continue until the position is filled.

For more information about CMU and BCCS, please refer to
http://www.bccs. uib.no/
or
contact
Senior Scientist Øyvind Thiem (Oyvind.Thiem@ bccs.uib. no, phone: +47 55 58 40 76),
or
professor Jarle Berntsen (Jarle.Berntsen@ math.uib. no phone: +47 55 58 48 54).

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Department of Chemistry
University of Warwick http://www.warwick. ac.uk/go/ chemistry/ research

PhD Studentships will be available in 2009/10 for projects in:
* Chemical Biology
* Materials Chemistry
* Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics
* Synthetic Chemistry
* Theory and Computational Chemistry

You will normally have high 2i or 1st degree in Chemistry or related science and have evidence of research ability from your undergraduate degree.

International students must have the equivalent of a UK 2i or above. You may also have a Masters or MChem degree.

Please apply using the University of Warwick on-line application system www.go.warwick. ac.uk/pgapply

Competitive Scholarships
The Department of Chemistry at Warwick also supports applications for University of Warwick competitive scholarships.

More information is available at
www.go.warwick. ac.uk/chem- phd/funding/ wprs

For Details on how to apply see www.go.warwick.ac.uk/chem-phd

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PhD student Chemo-mechanical Nano to Micro Modelling of Cement-Based Materials
Delft University of Technology Civil Engineering & Geosciences
Delft, (Zuid-Holland) , 38 hours per week

Job description

COmputationally Driven design of Innovative CEment-based materials (CODICE) is an advanced, multi-scale modelling research project, developed within the FP7 framework of the EU research area. The project's main objective is to develop computational tools that will enable a full integration of nano- to macro-level modelling of cementitious materials. Nano-level research and molecular dynamics activities are supported by the Labein research foundation in Bilbao (Spain) and the University of Bonn (Germany), while the micro- to macro-level research activities are supported by the Microlab of Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands) . The project involves a large number of European companies with international reputations. The scope of the research activities allows for one PhD research position. This position entails chemo-mechanical modelling of the nano to micro interface of the hydration phases, with an emphasis on the integration of the numerical simulation models. Upscaling techniques applied to hydration mechanisms and the embedment of nano-level into micro-level simulation models will be the main focus of the research activities.
The work will be conducted in close cooperation with the Labein research foundation and the University of Bonn.

Requirements

Required education/skills: University Graduate
The candidate for this position should have a Master degree in chemical engineering, physics or materials science. Of particular interest are candidates with knowledge in the field of cement chemistry, thermodynamics, and/or numerical modelling. The candidate will work in an inspiring team of researchers with international
qualifications. The home base will be the Microlab of Delft University of Technology.

Job type: Research / Advising

Workfield(s) :
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers( Scientific
discipline: Engineering)

Organization

Delft University of Technology, Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognized level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on
sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

The Department of Design and Construction in the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences deals with a wide array of subjects, such as sustainable building, road and railway construction, structural mechanics, construction processes and civil engineering structures. In both research and education, innovation plays an important role. The department's work focuses strongly on innovation, solutions and applications. The Materials and Environment Section is part of the Department of Design and Construction. The section's mission is to accumulate and transmit knowledge related to the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of materials that may be used for architectural and civil engineering applications, with an emphasis on sustainability and environmental issues. Within this section, the Microlab is the fundamental research lab where experimentation and modelling are carried out.

Date of entry: 12/11/2008

Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000

Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2612
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: Four years
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:

TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home, and the option of assembling a customized compensation and benefits package (the 'IKA'). Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. For more information about this position, please contact
Prof. Dr. Ir. K. van Breugel,
phone, 31(0)15-2784954,
e-mail: K.vanBreugel@ tudelft.nl .

For information about the application procedure,
you are also welcome to contact
the HR Advisor,
N. van Benthem,
e-mail: n.vanbenthem@ tudelft.nl.
To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV along with a letter of application by 12 May 2009 to: Recruitment- citg@tudelft. nl.
When applying for this position, make sure to mention vacancy number CITG08-27.

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Prof. Dr. Ir. K. van Breugel
Telephone number: 31 (0)15-2784954
E-mail address: K.vanBreugel@ tudelft.nl

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

* About the organization (http://www.tudelft. nl)
* Technische Universiteit Delft (http://www.tudelft. nl)

Application
You can apply for this job before 12-05-2009 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

K. van Breugel/Design & Construction

E-mail: Recruitment- citg@tudelft. nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber CITG08-27.

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One Postdoc and two PhD Positions are available at the Section of Neuroimaging, Marburg. Our research group is located within the Department of Psychiatry and focuses on MR-neuroimaging in cognitive psychiatry. Some of our current projects address methodological developments, others investigate the neurocognitive correlates of various psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, autism, depression etc.).

Project description:
The work of the successful candidates will include the performance of experiments in the field of social-cognitive and affective neuroscience using fMRI, the analysis of effective connectivity between brain regions by Dynamic Causal Modelling and analysis of structural MR images (e.g., DTI data, hippocampus volumetry). Some projects are embedded in a German-wide multicenter project investigating therapy effects in patients with schizophrenia and panic disorder, respectively.

Requirements:
We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in multidisciplinary research. Applicants should have a degree in Neuroscience, Psychology, Medicine, Physics, Informatics, Biology or related areas. A background in fMRI analyses techniques (SPM, FSL, MATLAB etc), statistics or clinical neuropsychology would be of advantage.

The position is available immediately and search will continue until a candidate has been selected. Applications (including CV and publication list) should be sent to Soeren Krach (soerenkrach@ web.de) or Andreas Jansen (an.jan@gmx.de).

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The research alliance JARA-Brain between the University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen
University and the Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine at the Research Center Jülich investigates the structure and function of the human brain in health and neuro-psychiatric disorders in order to develop new diagnostic or therapeutic approaches.

As part of the growth of JARA-Brain, a three-year PhD position has become available in the "Neuropsychiatric Systems Biology" group (head: Prof. Dr. Simon Eickhoff) at the Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University of Aachen (head: Prof. Dr. Dr. Frank Schneider). Working at the interface between basic neuroscience and its clinical application, this research group addresses the following questions: How are the processes underlying motor, cognitive and affective functions organised in the human brain? How do their different components interact to form physiological networks? How is this regional organisation or its functional integration disturbed in patients suffering from neurological or psychiatric disorders? Which models for the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying clinical symptoms can be derived from these findings?

Methods that will be learned and applied during the course of the PhD project include the performance of neuroimaging experiments using fMRI, the analysis of effective connectivity between brain regions by Dynamic Causal Modelling und quantitative Meta-Analyses of published functional imaging results.

We are now looking for a PhD student with a strong interest in this multidisciplinary research. Applicants should have a degree in Neuroscience, Psychology, Medicine, Informatics, Biology or related areas. A background in neuroanatomy, statistics and/or fMRI analysis techniques (SPM, FSL, MATLAB etc) would be of advantage, readiness to learn new methods in an interdisciplinary environment a necessary requirement.

The position is available immediately and search will continue until a candidate has been selected. For further information or informal inquiries, please contact Simon Eickhoff (seickhoff@ukaachen. de). If this position has raised you interest, please sent your application preferentially by email (seickhoff@ukaachen. de) or alternatively by letter to: Prof. Dr. Simon Eickhoff, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen

Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Simon B. Eickhoff

AG Neuropsychiatrische Systembiologie

Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Universitätsklinikum Aachen
Telefon: +49 241 80 80523
Fax: +49 2461 61 2820
eMail: SEickhoff@ukaachen. de

und

Institut für Neurowissenschaften und Medizin
Forschungszentrum Juelich

Telefon: +49 2461 61 8609
Fax: +49 2461 61 2820
eMail: S.Eickhoff@fz- juelich.de

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PhD position biostat/epidemiolog y (childhood asthma) [3y; degree stat, math, med or nat sc; backgrnd appl stat, interest clinical epidemiol or public health; stat progr (R or Matlab), exp standard stat SW such as Stata or SAS; English & either German or French; prediction of onset & persistence of childhood wheezing disorders, using data from large population-based cohort studies; Travel to England 2-3 times per y] / Institute of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern (funded by Swiss National Science Foundation) / deadline February 15

The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bern is one of five medical faculties in Switzerland. The Faculty’s Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM) employs some 100 staff and provides undergraduate and post-graduate education and carries out research in a range of disciplines relevant to Public Health. ISPM offers a lively, interdisciplinary environment with excellent computing and library
facilities. With its mediaeval architecture, the Swiss capital city of Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which offers excellent quality of life in the
proximity of the Alps.

An opening for a PhD position in biostatistics / epidemiology (childhood asthma)
is available from 1st March 2009, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Childhood wheezing disorders (including childhood asthma) are the most common chronic health problem in childhood. Yet, the factors that determine if a child gets asthma, and if it grows out of it or develops chronic disease, are poorly known. This PhD project will focus on the prediction of onset and persistence of childhood wheezing disorders, using data from large population-based cohort studies
(N=10,000; Int J Epidemiol 2007;36:977- 85).

Specifically the applicant will:
* Perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing literature on predictors of onset and persistence of wheeze and asthma.
* Explore, apply and compare the performance of the methods (e.g. logistic regression, classification and regression trees, and artificial neural networks) in predicting onset and persistence of asthma in children.
* Develop prognostic tools for use in clinical practice.
* Prepare graphs and tables based on the analysis, write statistical reports and scientific papers.
* Present results at national and international conferences.
* Travel to England 2-3 times per year for meetings with collaborators.
* Participate in general tasks relating to the management of the Leicester cohort studies (database creation and maintenance, logistics of ongoing and future surveys, data cleaning, grant applications).

We are seeking a PhD candidate with a strong background in applied statistics and with an interest in clinical epidemiology or public health. Candidates with a degree in statistics, mathematics, medicine or natural sciences are welcome to apply.
The ideal candidate will be a motivated graduate student (diploma or master degree) with good skills in statistical programming (R or Matlab) combined with an interest in applied health related research.

Experience in the use of standard statistical software such as Stata or SAS, in writing scientific papers and reports and in presenting results would be advantageous. The ability to maintain cleardocumentation is essential. Languages: excellent knowledge of English and either German or French.

The appointment is available from March 2009 for 3 years. The salary of the PhD position is based on the salary scale of the Swiss National Science Foundation. More detailed information on the position can be obtained from Claudia Kuehni.

Please send your applications including curriculum vitae as soon as possible, but not later than February 15, 2009 to: PD Dr. med. Claudia Kuehni, Institut für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin, Finkenhubelweg 11, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. E-mail: kuehni@ispm. unibe.ch. Universität Bern, Institut für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin, Finkenhubelweg 11, CH-3012 Bern, www.ispm.unibe. ch.

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