[Lista-Algas] PhD Opportunity: University of Essex (UK)

[Andres Boltovskoy]

Project Title:

Responses of marine macroalgae to a high CO2 environment

 

Supervisors:

Dr. Michael Steinke, Dr. Leanne Hepburn, Dr. Dave Suggett

 

Funding:

Available for UK and EU citizens

 

Project Description:

We study the ecophysiology of marine algae and their role in microbial food webs. The oceans absorb CO2 and this process results in a phenomenon called 'ocean acidification'. Ocean acidification affects the physiological performance of phytoplankton including their ability to photosynthesise, calcify, and produce the climate-relevant trace gas dimethyl sulphide (DMS). It is likely that it will also be detrimental to the rate of calcification in marine calcifying macroalgae. A reduction in calcification will have important implications for global marine ecosystems including the structure and functioning of subtropical coral reefs. Furthermore, seaweeds are an important source of DMS along temperate coasts and changes in DMS production may significantly affect atmospheric processes.

 

You will establish laboratory cultures of calcifying macroalgae and non-calcifying seaweeds. You will incubate these at various CO2 levels and quantify their physiological performance using gas chromatography, and a combination of imaging and spectroscopic techniques (chlorophyll-a fluorometry coupled to Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)).

 

During the project there may be opportunities to conduct fieldwork at the Mediterranean island of Ischia or at one of our coral reef fieldsites in Indonesia.

 

You will be an enthusiastic team player with strong scientific interests and self-motivation. You will have at least a 2.1 honours degree in biology, chemistry or a branch of environmental science. Good numerical ability and some experience in chemical analysis are an advantage. You will be trained in chemical analyses and biological incubation experiments, while addressing a problem of global significance. You will acquire some highly useful and transferable skills such as: project planning, handling and visualization of data, execution of fieldwork, effective collaboration, scientific writing, and oral communication.

 

References:

Raven J. et al. 2005. Ocean acidification due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. The Royal Society, London. 1-60.

            (Available at http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/document.asp?id=3249)

 

Subject areas:

Marine Biology

Botany/Plant Science

Environ Science/Ecology

 

Further information:

University of Essex: http://www.essex.ac.uk/ 

Department of Biological Sciences: http://www.essex.ac.uk/bs/ 

Research Studentships and Application Materials: http://www.essex.ac.uk/bs/pgrad/index.shtm 

 

Closing date of applications:  12th March 2007 

 

For informal enquiries please contact Dr. Michael Steinke msteinke at essex.ac.uk 

 

 

Dr. Michael Steinke

Department of Biological Sciences

University of Essex

Wivenhoe Park

Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom

 

phone: +44-(0)1206-873318

fax: +44-(0)1206-872592

email: msteinke at essex.ac.uk

web: http://www.essex.ac.uk/bs/staff/steinke/index.shtm

 
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