The National Centre of Competence in Research NCCR Genesis is a research infrastructure project funded by SNSF, focusing on exploring the emergence of life in the Universe. This interdisciplinary project brings together physicists, earth and planetary scientists, chemists, and biologists to understand the conditions and mechanisms that enable life to emerge. The project aims to drive innovative research and achieve decisive progress in detecting reliable traces of life (biosignatures) through remote sensing or direct onsite measurements. NCCR Genesis is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, cultivating a respectful and fair work culture with equal access to professional development and support for all. Applications from under-represented groups are strongly encouraged.
This position is a 2-year fully funded postdoctoral opportunity investigating the co-evolution of life and the Earth system over geological timescales, with a focus on major transitions in energy metabolism of early prokaryotic life.
Tasks
- Develop and implement an interdisciplinary research programme investigating the evolution of early prokaryotic life in its geodynamic and climatic context.
- Work at the interface of evolutionary biology, molecular evolution, geodynamics, Earth-system science, and planetary habitability.
- Build on existing modeling of anaerobic autotrophs and heterotrophs to design a model simulating assemblages of metabolic communities as a function of global and local chemical and physical conditions.
- Build on existing models of carbon and nutrient cycling and atmospheric evolution during the Archean to investigate how evolving geophysical and geochemical processes may have constrained or been affected by evolving early metabolic assemblages.
- Use outputs from geodynamic simulations as constraints for geophysical and geochemical processes to investigate how varying planetary conditions may facilitate or hinder certain evolutionary transitions in early metabolisms.
- Use these models to explore how biological evolution can alter planetary conditions and potentially drive systems toward alternative stable states.
- Communicate research findings through scientific publications, presentations at international conferences, and collaboration with project partners.
Requirements
- A PhD in geobiology, biogeochemistry, Earth sciences, geodynamics, planetary science, computational biology, or a closely related field.
- Strong background in interdisciplinary work is encouraged.
- Strong experience in quantitative research, computational modelling, data analysis, or a combination thereof.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently to formulate research questions, develop hypotheses, design analyses, and interpret results.
- Experience in geophysical/geochemical modeling or in bioenergetics, population ecology, eco-evolution.
- Strong scientific programming and data-analysis skills, preferably in Python, R, MATLAB, Julia, or a comparable language.
- Ability to critically evaluate model assumptions and integrate evidence from different types of data.
- Strong interest in evolutionary processes, early life, Earth-system evolution, or planetary habitability.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work on complex interdisciplinary questions.
- Ability to communicate scientific results clearly in written and spoken English.
- A collaborative mindset and willingness to work across disciplinary boundaries.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage an independent research programme.
- Experience in one or more of the following areas is advantageous: evolution of microbial energy metabolism or early prokaryotic life; geodynamic or mantle-convection modelling; climate or Earth-system modelling; biogeochemical or carbon-cycle modelling; geological or geochemical constraints on the evolution of early Earth; coupling biological and abiotic models or working with Earth-system feedbacks; high-performance computing and large-scale numerical simulations; experience working with interdisciplinary datasets and modelling frameworks.
- Candidates with a strong background in either computational biological evolution or geodynamics/Earth-system modelling are encouraged to apply, provided they have a strong interest in developing expertise across the other discipline.
Benefits
- Join a vibrant and highly interdisciplinary scientific community at ETH Zurich.
- Access to an internationally connected research environment at the interface of biology, Earth sciences, and planetary science.
- Opportunity to develop an independent research programme within a scientifically ambitious project.
- Access to advanced computational resources and modelling expertise.
- Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and interaction with researchers across different fields.
- Training and career-development opportunities.
- Support programmes including mentoring and interdisciplinary networks.
- A collaborative, inclusive, and international team culture.
- A stimulating research environment at a leading research institution.
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Über uns
Das Team
You will collaborate closely with researchers working on evolutionary biology, geodynamics, climate, and planetary science within a collaborative, inclusive, and international team culture.