Scientist / Postdoc for Molecular Investigations of Microbial Ecology in Manganese Nodule Ecosystems of the Deep Sea (f/m/d)

The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research is a research facility supported by the Federal Republic of Germany, the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen and the Länder of Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony with around 1,400 employees. In a broad multidisciplinary approach, we conduct polar and marine research and, in conjunction with numerous university and non-university research institutions, make an important contribution to global environmental, earth system and paleoclimate research. Scientist:in / Postdoc for molecular investigations of microbial ecology in deep-sea manganese tubers (w/m/d) Background While some companies are already working towards an early start of deep-sea mining, there is still a need for urgent research on the environmental impacts associated with it. Within the framework of the JPI-Oceans project MiningImpact, the Deep Sea Ecology and Technology Group carries out work on the effects of the degradation of polymetallic (or “Mangan”) tubers on benthic deep sea life communities and their functions. The research focuses on industrial tests carried out by the Patania II manganese tubers collector prototype, which were carried out in the Clarion-Clipperton-Frachture Zone (CCZ) in the subtropical East Pacific in 2021. Uninterrupted conditions and their spatial-temporal variability (baselines) are compared with post-impact investigations covering a period of days to years after the simulated manganese tube degradation. The focus of the site in the third phase of the project is on bacteria and archaeological communities at the bottom of the sea in the CCZ. A unique data set with DNA/RNA sequences (metabarcodes, metagenomes and metatranscriptomes from sediments, soil water and manganese tubers) in combination with data on metabolic rates and the biogeochemistry of the sediment will form the basis of work. The project will carry out further sampling and measurements in the CCZ to investigate the effects of the collector test on longer time scales. In addition to the scientific publication, contributions are made to prepare the results in the project for a scientific-based regulation of possible deep-sea mining activities in the future.

The work will focus on benthic microbial communities in CCZ's manganese tube ecosystems, combining analyses of taxonomic and functional diversity and combining them with knowledge of environmental conditions. In addition to the benthic communities, microorganisms are examined in soil water, manganese tubers and artificial tubers from colonisation experiments to fully identify the effects on the environment and assess possible renaturation measures. The work includes joint analyses within the AWI and the network of project partners (e.g. on different environmental factors and communities of other size classes). The main tasks shall include: carrying out bioinformatic analyses of microbial molecular data (metabarcoding, metagenomes, metatranscriptome) and evaluation of the results with regard to the taxonomic and functional diversity of microbial communities (e.g. composition and structure of communities, coded and expressed metabolic pathways) Evaluation of the information obtained from molecular data and combination with existing findings on environmental conditions using suitable statistical methods Characterisation of the environmental impacts of tuberculosis and exploration of potential indicators (e.g. specific microbial taxa and functions) for the impairment of ecosystems and – possibly – subsequent recovery Publication and presentation of results in scientific journals and at conferences Contribution to integrated, multidisciplinary analyses in the project consortium and joint publications and reports Participation in expedition(s) and carrying out microbial sampling, laboratory incubations, extractions and analyses on board as well as in the institute laboratory Participation in general project tasks (e.g. annual meetings, participation and organisation of workshops, reporting, data management)

Promotion in marine microbial ecology with a focus on molecular ecology or ecological genomics or closely related topics – ideally with a focus on deep sea Professional experience as a postdoc (at least 2 years) and proven experience in scientific publishing Comprehensive knowledge of the bioinformatic analysis of taxonomic and functional biodiversity and the encoded/expressed metabolic pathways of marine microbial communities (based on metabarcoding, metagenomes and metatranscriptoms) Knowledge of bioinformatic tools and pipelines for data preprocessing, the creation of Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASV) tables, the reconstruction of genes/nomists, the prediction of the phylogenetic origin of DNA sequences and genes, the classification of molecular features and the clustering of proteins based on structure and function Knowledge of R, Python, Unix/Linux-Command-Line Tools and the automation of workflows Extensive knowledge of the relevant metrics and methods for the analysis of natural microbial communities and functions and their spatial-temporal patterns (e.g. alpha/beta diversity, differential abundances and gene expression, physiogenetics, comparative pangenomics and reconstruction of metabolic pathways) Comprehensive knowledge of the relevant molecular databases for taxonomic and functional annotations Knowledge of molecular laboratory work, including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR and the creation of libraries for NGS Ability to work independently and in cooperation with the project partners. Planning of research activities including joint use and analysis of results Willingness to participate in expeditions and international travel at project meetings and conferences Embossed communication and team skills Excellent knowledge of English in word and writing (according to CEFR level C1) Required skills, knowledge and experience Knowledge of microbial metabolic processes and methods for their investigation (e.g. tracer-based incubations) and general marine/benthic biogeochemistry Interest and willingness to acquire and apply methods of machine learning/AI for ecological analyses Expedition experience

excellent research Cooperation and cooperation - internal institutes, national and international, interdisciplinary Opportunities to develop – at your own place and elsewhere an international environment – everyday contacts with people from all over the world flexible working hours company health promotion and corporate fitness with Hansefit and Wellhub Support offers and a lived culture of reconciliation of work and family occupational retirement provision (VBL) JOBV1_EN