PhD Project in Germany and France: Scattering analysis of supramolecular nanoparticle formation through electrostatic self-assembly (Erlangen, Germany + Grenoble, France)

Versatile architectures and functions in natural systems are realized through self-assembled, supramolecular nanostructures. It is thus highly desirable to develop new concepts for self-assembly, in particular for a targeted structural design and to exploit the large potential in applications ranging from medicine to nanoelectronics. To do this, it is essential to under-stand structure formation.

The goal of this project is to elucidate the structure formation mechanisms in the electrostatic self-assembly of macroions and organic counterions, a new concept for the formation of nanoscale assemblies with various shapes, functionality and responsiveness. The project will include establishing a suitable model system and designing a measuring cell for time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments. The central point will be to follow time-dependent size and shape evolutions on the nanoscale. Complementary studies using static and dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy (AFM),  spectroscopy and thermodynamic investigations will also be part of the project.

The PhD project will be carried out at the University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen (Germany), Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Group of Prof. Dr. Franziska Gröhn, and at the Institut Laue Langevin (ILL), Grenoble (France), The Large Scale Structures Group, with Dr. Ralf Schweins. The student will be part of the PhD program at the University Erlangen and the ILL PhD program. He/she will mostly be based in Grenoble making regular visits to Erlangen and will write his/her PhD thesis at the University Erlangen under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Franziska Gröhn.

Applicants should have a diploma or master’s degree in physics, chemistry or a related field and be interested in interdisciplinary research involving preparative and analytical tasks. A background in scattering techniques, soft matter, nanoscience, physical chemistry of macromolecules, and/or mathematical and programming skills would be advantageous. Very good English skills are required.

For further information, please contact:
Prof. Dr. Franziska Gröhn (franziska.groehn@chemie.uni-erlangen.de), or
Dr. Ralf Schweins (schweins@ill.eu)

Applications: Please email one PDF file to either one of the two supervisors, in English, before September 5, 2011.

Stability, resilience and activity maintenance of complex fungal communities towards environmental stressors

Fachgebiete:     Biologie
Thema:           Doktorarbeit / Diplomarbeit: 1)        Stability, resilience and activity maintenance of complex fungal communities towards environmental stressors
Ansprechpartner: Dr. rer. nat. Dietmar Schlosser
Antwort an:      dietmar.schlosser@ufz.de
Institution:     Helmholtz Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ
Ort:             04318 Leipzig, Permoserstrasse 15

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Microbial communities composed of several community members may possess advantages over single species with respect to their ability to cope with environmental stress. For instance, such complex communities may be more stable with respect to their resilience to stress and maintenance of activities. Further, mixed communities may be able to more sufficiently use substrate resources or occupy different niches, thus resulting in an overall higher performance. Within this master topic, the validity of this ecological theory will be assessed for a particular example of biotechnological relevance, i.e. the decolourisation of textile dyes by fungi. The work will focus on complex fungal communities to be constructed from single strains that are available from a culture collection. Due to the demand for efficient biological treatment methods for effluents from the dyestuff industries, the decolourisation of textile dyes and fungal growth will serve as activity parameters with a bio-te
 chnological significance, and hence will be assessed in corresponding laboratory experiments. Relative abundance of fungal strains will be further analysed using molecular tools. During these experiments, extreme (alkaline) pH values and high salt loads (both prevailing in certain effluents of the dyestuff industries) will be applied as environmental stressors.

Anfangsdatum: 1. September 2011

geschätzte Dauer: 6

Zwei AssistentInnenstellen am Institut für Geodäsie und Geopyhsik; TU Wien (Wien)

The Vienna University of Technology is looking to fill two positions for University Assistents (post doc) at the Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics, research group Geophysics. Applicants are expected to participate in current geophysical research projects (http://info.tuwien.ac.at/geophysik/), to contribute to applications for future projects, and to carry out pre- and post-graduate geophysical lectures within the current curricula.

Please find details for application on the webpage of the Vienna University of Technology (https://tiss.tuwien.ac.at/mbl/main/mbl?n=1811#p175.2)
or in the following excerpt from MITTEILUNGSBLATT, 20. Juli 2011 (in German).

Technische Universität Wien
Fakultät für Mathematik und Geoinformation

2 Stellen für je eine/n vollbeschäftigte/n Assistenten/in (40 Wochenstunden) am Institut für Geodäsie und Geophysik, Forschungsgruppe Geophysik, ehest möglich für die Dauer von 2 Jahren.

Aufnahmebedingungen: einschlägiges abgeschlossenes Doktoratsstudium der Fachrichtung Geophysik

Sonstige Kenntnisse: solide Grundkenntnisse der globalen und angewandten Geophysik; hervorragende Kenntnisse in Seismologie oder seismischer Exploration sowie die Fähigkeit zu hervorragenden Forschungsarbeiten in diesem Bereich; Erfahrung in der Lehre;
Englisch, Deutsch

Bewerbungsfrist: bis 19. August 2011
Bewerbungen schriftlich an die Personalabteilung für wissenschaftliches Personal der Technischen Universität Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Wien,
Onlinebewerbungen an pers1@zv.tuwien.ac.at