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Master's thesis in Reconstructing methanotrophic bacteria communities during the Holocene of an alpine lake (m/f/d)

Master's thesis in Reconstructing methanotrophic bacteria communities during the Holocene of an alpine lake (m/f/d)

Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is an internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). Eawag conducts research, education and expert consulting to achieve the dual goals of meeting direct human needs for water and maintaining the function and integrity of aquatic ecosystems.

The Department of Surface Waters - Research and Management (SURF), in Dübendorf (ZH), has a vacancy for a

Master's thesis in Reconstructing methanotrophic bacteria communities during the Holocene of an alpine lake (m/f/d)

Background: Methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) plays a key role in regulating methane emissions from lakes, yet their past community dynamics under changing environmental and climate conditions remain poorly constrained. Our group studies MOB communities in alpine and peri-alpine lakes using a combination of lipid biomarker analysis and molecular biology tools. We are now looking for a motivated master's student to apply this approach to a 12-meter-long sediment core retrieved from the alpine Lac de Taney (VS).

Project description: This MSc project will reconstruct MOB community composition and dynamics in the Lac de Taney sediment record using specific bacterial lipid biomarkers known as bacteriohopanepolyols (BHP), alongside complementary proxies (e.g., TOC, XRF elemental abundances) and relate these findings to the broader evolution of the lake's biogeochemistry during the Holocene. The Sedimentology Group is part of the Department of Surface Waters and is headed by Prof. , Head of the Department of Surface Waters. The project offers the possibility to shape the specific research questions together, depending on the student's interests.

What you will do 

• Process and subsample the Lac de Taney sediment core (~50 samples)
• Extract and analyze lipid biomarkers via UHPLC-Orbitrap-HRMS
• Perform DNA extraction and prepare samples for 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing
• Interpret multi-proxy data to reconstruct past microbial community dynamics
• Optionally join a fieldwork campaign at Lake Rotsee to see the full workflow of core retrieval firsthand in October 2026

You will gain hands-on laboratory experience across a full analytical pipeline spanning organic geochemistry and molecular biology. You will have access to state-of-the-art instrumentation at Eawag Dübendorf, including UHPLC-Orbitrap-HRMS, and receive close supervision within an active research group.

We are looking for a student enrolled in an MSc programme at ETH in geoscience, environmental science, biology, or a related field. You have an interest in biogeochemistry, (paleo)limnology, and/or microbial ecology and are willing to work with a range of analytical techniques. No prior experience with mass spectrometry or molecular biology is required.

At Eawag, we have a working environment in which people with different experiences, strengths, and perspectives can fully contribute and further develop. Here, you can help us advance! We promote genuine participation, exchange, and mutual understanding. We create structures that enable the compatibility of work and other areas of life, such as care work, and continuously make efforts to reduce barriers.

Do you have specific requirements regarding the application process or the position, or do you need additional information? Talk to us about it-we will be happy to support you with possible flexible workplace, working hours, and job design solutions. For further information please visit our website about Eawag as well as our conditions of employment.

The project is scheduled to start in the fall semester 2026 with the proposal phase (if required, e.g. D-EAPS at ETH), followed by the project in the semester 2027. The exact start date can be discussed. The project has a duration of 6 months. The supervisors are Lorenzo Cellino, PhD student, and Nora Richter, SNSF Ambizione Fellow.

Deadline for applications is 30 October 2026 or until the position is filled and will therefore be evaluated on a rolling basis. Applications should include a very short cover letter (. one page) describing your interests and their relevance to this position, as well as a CV.

For more details on the position, please contact Write an email or Write an email by email.

We look forward to receiving your application. Please send it through this webpage, as any other way of applying will not be considered. A click on the link below will take you directly to the application form.

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Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

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