Currently open: Four fully funded PhD positions

1) Ecophysiology of Stress Response

Duration of contract: Up to 4 years 
Planned starting date: ASAP 
Place of work: University of Vienna
Main supervisor: Stephanie A. Eichorst

Supervision team: Dagmar Wöbken

 

Project description:

Stressed out? So are soil microbes! Soils are habitats with unpredictable conditions for microorganisms, confronting them with suboptimal conditions, also regarding the available O2 concentration. As such, up to 80% of microorganisms in soils are assumed to be in a state of low metabolic activity or dormancy. Yet some aerobic heterotrophs have developed a strategy to deal with these varying O2 concentrations. Contrary to the established notion, we found that Acidobacteriota can respire nanomolar O2 concentrations using low-affinity instead of high-affinity terminal oxidases. This refutes the standing hypothesis that the capability to respire O2 in microoxic conditions is exclusively based on the presence and activity of high-affinity terminal oxidases.

 

This project expands upon this finding to ascertain if this observation extends beyond members of the Acidobacteriota using a combination of respiratory kinetics, genomics, gene expression, knock-out mutants and growth-based experiments, together with our international collaboration partners. This project will have broad-reaching implications to the fields of microbiology, physiology and genomics and ultimately uncover microbial strategies for dealing with environmental stressors.  

2) Polymer Biodegradation by Wastewater Microbiomes

Duration of contract: Up to 4 years 
Planned starting date: July/August 2025 
Place of work: University of Vienna
Main supervisor: Michael Zumstein

 

Project description:

Water-soluble polymers (WSPs) are essential for numerous applications, and, after use, they enter wastewater systems. This project addresses the critical need for sustainable end-of-life solutions for WSPs. Specifically, the planned research will focus on elucidating how polymer- and wastewater-related factors govern WSP biodegradation. You will employ respirometrybased laboratory tests to quantify biodegradation rates and extents – complemented with microbiome analyses to characterize key microbial players. This research aims to reveal the interplay between factors and will have significant impact – also through collaboration with leading chemical industry partners. 

3) Polymer Biodegradation & Extracellular Enzymes in Aquatic Environments

Duration of contract: Up to 4 years 
Planned starting date: July/August 2025 
Place of work: University of Vienna
Main supervisor: Michael Zumstein

 

Project description:

Water-soluble polymers (WSPs) are essential for numerous applications, and, after use, they enter wastewater and freshwater systems. To enable sustainable end-of-life solutions for WSPs, a fundamental understanding of the extracellular enzymes in these systems is needed. This project aims to link WSP biodegradation with the activity and identity of extracellular enzymes. Specifically, you will employ a multi-faceted approach based on enzyme inhibition, activity assays based on substrates relevant to WSPs, and enzyme isolation and identification to reveal key enzymes and provide a molecular-level understanding of WSP biodegradation in wastewater and freshwater systems.

4) Human Exposure and Toxicological Effects of Tire Additives

Duration of contract: 3 years 
Planned starting date: ASAP 
Place of work: University of Vienna
Main supervisor: Thilo Hofmann
Supervision team: Göksu Çelik

 

Project description:

Tire wear particles (TWPs) are emerging environmental contaminants with growing concern for human health. TWPs contain various chemical additives, such as antioxidants, plasticizers, and vulcanization agents, that are used in the tire manufacturing process to enhance tire performance and durability. Despite their widespread presence in urban air and dust, the extent of human exposure and the associated toxicological effects of these additives remain poorly understood. This PhD project aims to investigate both the human exposure and health impacts of tire-derived chemicals, focusing on exposure scenarios through inhalation.

The successful candidate will work at the interface of environmental chemistry and toxicology to: (1) develop and apply analytical methods for processing and quantifying TWPs and their leachates, (2) assess human exposure through airborne sampling and simulated lung fluids, and (3) evaluate toxicological effects of tire additives using in vitro assays to assess oxidative stress and cytotoxicity on human lung cells. The project combines laboratory-based experiments with fieldwork and will contribute essential data for improving chemical risk assessments of non-exhaust traffic emissions.

Gender equality, diversity and non-discrimination

© Manuel Lavoriero

The University pursues a non-discriminatory employment policy and values equal opportunities, as well as diversity (http://diversity.univie.ac.at/). The University lays special emphasis on increasing the number of women in senior and in academic positions. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female applicants.

The University of Vienna has an institutionalised gender equality policy and within this framework VDSMES strives to strengthen the career development of female scientists at all qualifications levels and to support compatibility between family and work/training.

The Gender Equality and Diversity unit of the University of Vienna provides services which, based on the issue of gender equality, aim at ensuring equal opportunities for all university members.

To top