Sweden PhD Position Department of Medical

PhD position on isotopomer studies of plant-climate interactions, Department of Medical
Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Sweden

Little is known on interactions between plants and atmospheric and climate change on
time scales of centuries. The goal of the project is to deduce separate climate and
physiological signals from tree rings, to be able to detect these interactions. We have
developed an approach to measure isotopomer abundances (i.e. the intramolecular
distributions of stable isotopes in metabolites), by NMR spectroscopy. Isotopomers turn
isotope abundances into multiple information channels, as basis for parallel reconstruction
of climate and physiological signals.

The PhD project will focus on the deuterium isotope,
applied to tree ring series and material from annual plants. The research environment
includes chemists, earth scientists, and forest ecology.

Qualifications: Applicants must have a master’s degree in chemistry, earth sciences or a
related field. We seek a person who is highly motivated to combine methodology from
several fields. Key qualifications for this position include experience in handling
environmental samples and familiarity with isotope concepts; experience in NMR
spectroscopy is a merit.

The PhD project can start immediately or upon agreement. Applications should include
CV, a short statement of motivation, copies of master’s degree and thesis, and names and
addresses of three persons willing to act as references.

For more information contact:
Prof. Jürgen Schleucher
Department of Medical Biochemistry & Biophysics
Umeå University, S-90187 Umeå, Sweden
jurgen.schleucher@chem.umu.se