Our mission as research center: Discover personalized medical solutions for environmentally triggered diseases to promote a healthier society in a rapidly changing world. The research unit environmental simulation (EUS) focuses on the impact of environmental factors on the biosphere-atmosphere exchange through the simulation of diverse climatic conditions.
In the frame of the DFG-funded project “The role of petrichor – the scent of rain – in desert ecosystems and consequences under global warming” in cooperation with the Universities of Cologne, Germany and Ben-Gurion Israel, the joint project will study the ‘smell of rain’ or petrichor in desert soils, its functions in arid soil ecosystems and its potential implications under climate change.
The focus of the PhD is to study the chemical composition of odours (volatile organic compounds, VOCs) released by dry soils following rain events and to identify the producers and responders of odours within the microbial community of the biocrust and topsoil. This will involve trace gas analysis using mass spectrometry and stable isotope techniques, experiments in climate chambers and visits to collaborating laboratories.
Your mission
- Gas exchange and VOC analysis
- Biochemical analysis and 13C labelling techniques
- Measurement of VOCs by mass spectrometry (PTR-MS & GCMS)
- Evaluation of volatilome data using multivariate statistics and machine learning approaches
- Linking of volatilome data with data from transcriptomic analyses (provided by the partners)
Your qualifications
- University degree in chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, or a similar professional training
- Experience in mass spectrometry
- Knowledge of programming (R) and multivariate statistics is a plus
- Knowledge of microbiology is desirable
- Strong team spirit and willingness to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural team
What we offer you
- scientific training at HELENA Graduate School
- work-life balance
- flexible working hours & time off in lieu
- 30 days annual leave
- on-site health management service
- career consultation
- mobile work
- on-site nursery
- company pension scheme
- discounted public transport ticket
Munich, with its numerous lakes and its vicinity to the Alps, is considered to be one of the cities with the best quality of life worldwide. With its first-class universities and world-leading research institutions it offers an intellectually stimulating environment. This position also provides the opportunity for you to build specialist knowledge and collect significant professional experience, both of which will help advance your scientific career.
Remuneration and social benefits are based on the collective wage agreement for public-sector employees at federal level (EG 13 50% TV EntgO Bund). In addition, there is also the possibility of granting an allowance if the necessary conditions are fulfilled. The position is (initially) limited to three years, but under certain circumstances an extension can be arranged. To promote diversity, we welcome applications from talented people regardless of gender, cultural background, nationality, ethnicity, sexual identity, physical abilities, religion and age.
Qualified applicants with physical disabilities will be given preference. If you have obtained a university degree abroad, we require further documents from you regarding the recognition of the degree. Please request the recognition as early as possible. Total E-Quality Award for excellent gender equality policy for women and men: Helmholtz Munich is particularly committed to promoting professional equality between women and men. It therefore aims to increase the proportion of the underrepresented sex in the respective field.
Helmholtz Munich is part of the Helmholtz Association, Germany’s largest scientific organization. Altogether 43.000 people currently work in its 18 scientific-technical and biological-medical research centers. The Association’s annual budget amounts to around 5 billion Euros.
To apply: Interested? If you have further questions, simply contact Dr. Andrea Ghirardo, Email: andrea.ghirardo@helmholtz-muenchen.de who will be happy to be of assistance.
Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenDeutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH)Research Unit Environmental SimulationIngolstädter Landstraße 185764 Oberschleißheim