The Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC) is funded by the German Excellence Initiative. JSMC is an ambitious Graduate School with over 150 PhD students who are educated in a structured, interdisciplinary training program based on top-level fundamental research. It conceptionally combines different research areas to a comprehensive picture of microbial communication (www.jsmc.uni-jena.de). Institutes at five faculties of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, six non-university research institutes as well as 12 partner companies are participating in this cutting-edge research and training program. Banded Iron Formations are controversial (meta-) sedimentary rocks composed of alternating layers of iron-rich and amorphous silica-rich layers. In the context of early earth evolution, the formation of BIFs is considered as a microbially mediated process that involves iron-metabolizing microorganisms. To better understand the genesis of BIFs, the project comprises detailed mineralogical and geochemical investigations of banded irons from Western Australia, and the experimental laboratory simulation of microbially mediated precipitation of iron minerals.
Requirements:
- a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Natural or Life Sciences. Candidates about to obtain their degree are welcome to apply
- high motivation and interest in joining one of the interdisciplinary research areas of the JSMC
- creativity and interest in shaping your own thesis project
- an integrative and cooperative personality as well as enthusiasm for actively participating in the lively JSMC Community
- very good communication skills in English (the language of instruction at the JSMC)
Study Subject(s):Microbial Origin of Banded Iron Formations
Course Level:PhD
Scholarship Provider: The German Excellence Initiative
Scholarship can be taken at: Germany
Course Level:PhD
Scholarship Provider: The German Excellence Initiative
Scholarship can be taken at: Germany
