Microscale Processes in Microbiome-Enhanced Silicate Weathering
Duration of contract: 4 years
Planned starting date: ASAP
Place of work: University of Vienna
Main supervisor: Stephan Krämer (CV | Lab Homepage)
Supervision team: Andreas Richter, Petra Pjevac, Peter Hinterdorfer, Thomas Böttcher
This position has been filled.
Project description:
The Postdoctoral Researcher will investigate the effect of soil microorganisms on enhanced silicate weathering, taking into account micro-scale heterogeneity and molecular-scale processes. Microfluidic devices will be developed in collaboration with the CoE microfluidics facility in order to study the effects of micro-scale heterogeneity (e.g., mineral aggregates, secondary mineral formation, microbial colonies, redox boundaries etc.) on local and overall weathering rates. The effect of microbial consortia on key variables of mineral weathering including pH, redox potential, reactive biogenic compounds will be investigated on the microscale as well as the effects of the properties of reactive mineral phases on microenvironments and carbon capture. These processes will ultimately be understood in terms of silicate weathering mechanisms on the nano- and molecular scales using microscopic and micro-spectroscopic (e.g., synchrotron micro-XAS) methods. The PD will collaborate with a PhD student in the same project.