Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering and the BioTechnology Institute at the University of Minnesota, MN, USA, are searching for qualified applicants who are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree in the areas of Environmental Microbiology and Environmental Engineering. The PhD position will be in the Environmental Microbiology/Molecular Microbial Ecology group of Professor Behrens. The group’s research interests are centered around mixed microbial community processes driving environmental contaminant degradation and nutrient removal emphasizing three main interconnected research themes:
Microbial biodegradation of organofluorine compounds
Impact of microplastics on microbial processes in wastewater treatment
Microbe – pyrogenic carbon (biochar) interactions for soil and water remediation
Applicants should have strong interest in microbial biodegradation and bioremediation strategies of contaminants (organohalogen compounds, microplastics) in natural and engineered systems (bioreactors). Students with a strong background in microbiology and hands-on laboratory experience in molecular biology techniques (qPCR, meta-omics), single cell analysis (droplet microfluidics, flow cytometry), and bioinformatic tools, are specifically encouraged to apply. Applicants with BS or MS degrees in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, or Environmental Engineering and other relevant disciplines will be preferred. Excellent English communication and written skills are required.
The student will be admitted to the Civil Engineering Ph.D. program starting in the summer or fall semester of 2025, and will receive tuition support, and competitive monthly stipend and benefits. Interested students are encouraged to apply by December 3rd, 2024, through the University of Minnesota Graduate School Online Admission Application System https://grad.umn.edu/admissions. Application criteria and checklist are available on the University Admissions website.
For questions and further information on the position(s) please contact Dr. Sebastian Behrens (sbehrens@umn.edu) and include the following information in your e-mail
- Short summary of relevant experience and research interests in this position
- CV (including publications, presentations, and other academic activities, English language proficiency test scores, if applicable)