C-DEBI Newsletter – April 15, 2019

Publications & Press

Frontiers in Microbiology
Living at the Extremes: Extremophiles and the Limits of Life in a Planetary Context – NEW!
Nancy Merino, Heidi Aronson, Diana P. Bojanova, Jayme Feyhl-Buska, Michael L. Wong, Shu Zhang, Donato Giovannelli*
*C-DEBI Contribution 468

Prokaryotic life has dominated most of the evolutionary history of our planet, evolving to occupy virtually all available environmental niches. Extremophiles, especially those thriving under multiple extremes, represent a key area of research for multiple disciplines, spanning from the study of adaptations to harsh conditions, to the biogeochemical cycling of elements. Extremophile research also has implications for origin of life studies and the search for life on other planetary and celestial bodies. In this article, we will review the current state of knowledge for the biospace in which life operates on Earth and will discuss it in a planetary context, highlighting knowledge gaps and areas of opportunity.
 

The Boothbay Register: Study shows unusual microbes hold clues to early life – NEW!
A new study has revealed how a group of deep-sea microbes provides clues to the evolution of life on Earth, according to a recent paper in The ISME Journal (Carr, et al., C-DEBI Contribution 451). Researchers used cutting-edge molecular methods to study these microbes, which thrive in the hot, oxygen-free fluids that flow through Earth’s crust.

Proposal Calls

NOAA: Ocean Exploration and Research FFO Announcement – NEW!
The NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) is soliciting ocean exploration proposals to address knowledge gaps and support growth in the Nation’s Blue Economy and/or to contribute to Seabed 2030 goals. Proposals are being requested on the following three topics: 1. OCEAN EXPLORATION. Ocean exploration to inform management, sustainable use, and conservation of marine resources in poorly explored deep ocean areas of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Areas proposed for exploration and/or initial characterization must be at a minimum depth of 200 meters. 2. MARINE ARCHAEOLOGY. Discovery and characterization of underwater cultural heritage representing past marine-based economic activities or early human occupation to inform decisions on preservation and seabed use, and to identify sources of potential environmental impacts. Marine archaeology proposals can be conducted in any water depth. 3. TECHNOLOGY. Application of new or novel use of existing ocean technologies or innovative methods that increase the scope and efficiency of acquiring ocean exploration data and improve usability of and access to ocean exploration data. Proposed technologies must be applicable to water depths of 200 meters or greater, though testing in shallower water or lab-based test facilities will be supported. The deadline for the pre-proposal submission is May 24, 2019.

Simons Foundation: Postdoctoral Fellowships in Marine Microbial Ecology
Application deadline: June 14, 2019.

NSF: Opportunities for Promoting Understanding through Synthesis (OPUS)
Full proposal deadline: August 5, 2019.

NSF: Biological Oceanography
Full proposal deadline date: August 15, 2019.

NSF: Chemical Oceanography
Full proposal deadline date: August 15, 2019.

NSF: Physical Oceanography
Full proposal deadline date: August 15, 2019.

NSF: Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet)
Letter of intent due date: October 30, 2019.

NSF: Research Traineeship (NRT) Program
Next letter of intent window: November 25, 2019 – December 6, 2019.

Rolling Calls:

• C-DEBI: Rolling call for Research Exchange proposals
• DCO: Deep Life Cultivation Internship Program
• IODP-USSSP: Proposals for Pre-Drilling Activities
• NSF: Arctic Sciences Program Solicitation
• NSF: Division of Environmental Biology (core programs) (DEB)
• NSF: Infrastructure Innovation for Biological Research (IIBR)
• NSF: Instrument Capacity for Biological Research (ICBR)
• NSF: Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity
• NSF: Research Assistantships for High School Students (RAHSS): Funding to Broaden Participation in the Biological Sciences
• NSF: Research Experience for Teachers (RET): Funding Opportunity in the Biological Sciences
• NSF: Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP)

Employment

TAMU: Instructional Assistant Professor
Application deadline: June 1, 2019.

LMU: Professorship of Geological Earth Surface Processes – NEW!
This Professorship of Geological Earth Surfaces Processes (Sedimentology) should strengthen the Faculty of Geosciences in research and teaching in the area of Geology. This professorship is aimed at enhancing interdisciplinary cooperation in the dynamics of earth surface processes documented by sedimentary facies, stratigraphic successions, or paleoclimatological proxies, on the basis of sedimentological field observations and modern methods of sedimentary rock analysis. We expect a willingness to explore synergies with tectonics, paleontology, geobiology, geophysics, geochemistry, physical geography and in particular with the research and teaching unit in geology, as well as with the GeoBio-Center LMU and the Munich Geocenter. The establishment of third-party research funding from national and international sources is expected. Teaching responsibilities in the Bachelor program “Geosciences”, in the international Masters Programs “Geology”, “Geobiology and Paleobiology”, and “Geophysics”, as well as further teaching responsibilities in exogenic geology/sedimentology, must be met in a manner which is complementary to the existing teaching strengths of the department.

MSU: Assistant/Associate Professor of Environmental Microbiology

Princeton University: Assistant Professor