Situation Vacant
RUMEN MICROBIOLOGIST
A research position exists at AgResearch Grasslands, Palmerston North, New
Zealand for a postdoctoral researcher to work in rumen microbiology. The
appointee will investigate microbes and microbial processes involved in methane
formation in the rumen microbial ecosystem. The aim is to identify and
understand microbial factors so that strategies can be developed to minimise
methane emissions from grazing ruminants. This will be a 2 year appointment
starting in July, 1998. Please send curriculum vitae to
joblink at agresearch.cri.nz by August 31.
Duties will include:
· developing batch culture and chemostat methods for culturing methanogens and
non-methanogenic hydrogenotrophs.
· purifying, culturing, and identifying ruminal hydrogenotrophs from high- and
low-methane producing sheep.
· developing PCR primer methods and 16S rDNA/RNA probe technologies for
monitoring hydrogenotrophic populations in the rumen and in in vitro cultures.
· identifying ecological factors affecting ruminal hydrogenotrophic populations.
· writing reports.
Person Specification
The person will have postgraduate, preferably postdoctoral, experience in
anaerobic or rumen microbiology and an interest in developing new methods for
controlling microbial activities in the rumen ecosystem. Experience in applying
molecular biological techniques to the monitoring, identification or screening
of micro-organisms will be of benefit. The appointee will be self motivating,
able to work independently and have good communication skills.
For further information, contact:
Dr Keith Joblin at Agresearch in Palmerston North, New Zealand at
joblink at agresearch.cri.nz ; Fax 64-6-351 8003
