Download The Technological University Eindhoven, department of

The Technological University Eindhoven, department of Applied Physics, and the Fungal
Biodiversity Centre (CBS-KNAW) have a vacancy for a
Postdoc (3 years)
Fungal growth on porous materials: the role of the water supply
Experiments and modeling
Introduction
Fungi form a unique group of organisms. As holds for every organism, water is a key factor for growth. In
the real world this water is not always abundantly present and its availability fluctuates in time. As many
natural substrates are porous in nature, they can act as a buffer when a period of drought sets in, but can
also cause delays in when a wet period starts. In our lab we study how a fungus, that is colonizing a porous
material, is responding on the water dynamics in the underlying porous substrate.
Project aim and description
The aim of this project is to unravel the coupling between fungal growth, humidity, air flow and
evaporation. Fungal growth will be studied under well-defined conditions with respect to air flow and
humidity. The fungus will be visualized (on macroscopic and cell level) and modeled in connection with the
water transport in the substrate. Our lab has NMR imaging facilities to visualize the water dynamics inside
the porous substrate. The project is embedded in a joint program of the STW (Dutch Technology
Foundation) dealing with fungal growth under influence of transient humidity dynamics.
Working location
The work will be performed in the group Transport in Permeable Media (TPM) at the Technical University of
Eindhoven. It will be done in close cooperation with the Fungal Biodiversity Centre (CBS) of the Royal
Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science, which has an outstanding reputation in fungal biology, and TNO.
Contacts with the microbiology group of the University of Utrecht are also foreseen.
Requirements
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Do you have a PhD degree in physics or a related discipline?
Do you have a background in fluid dynamics?
Do you have experience with either visualization tools or NMR imaging?
Are you intrigued and challenged by biophysical processes?
Have you worked with advanced experimental techniques?
Do you have good programming skills (Matlab, C, C++)?
If so, you are the right candidate for this position. Although practical skills in microbiology are an advantage,
specific training in this area at the CBS will be offered within the framework of this project.
Employment
The appointment is for 3 years. The salary is according to the "Collective Employment Agreement Dutch
Universities". A salary as usual for a Postdoctoral position in the Netherlands is offered, starting at € 2.890,-gross per month. Moreover you will receive a holiday allowance of 8% and an end of year bonus of 8.3%.
More information, applications
More information can be obtained from: Dr. H.P. Huinink ([email protected] / +31 40 2475375). You can
send your application (including a cover letter, statement of research interests, a CV, and names of three
references) by email. Information about the group Transport in Permeable Media can be found at:
http://www.phys.tue.nl/TPM