C-DEBI Newsletter – May 3, 2021

C-DEBI Newsletter – May 3, 2021
A biweekly digest of deep biosphere news and opportunities
from the Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations

Publications
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Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Seafloor incubation experiment with deep-sea hydrothermal vent fluid reveals effect of pressure and lag time on autotrophic microbial communities (https://aem.asm.org/content/87/9/e00078-21) (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
-Caroline S. Fortunato*, David A. Butterfield, Benjamin Larson, Noah Lawrence-Slavas, Christopher K. Algar, Lisa Zeigler Allen, James F. Holden, Giora Proskurowski, Emily Reddington, Lucy C. Stewart, Begüm D. Topçuoğlu, Joseph J. Vallino, Julie A. Huber*-
-*C-DEBI Contribution 562-

Depressurization and sample processing delays may impact the outcome of shipboard microbial incubations of samples collected from the deep sea. To address this knowledge gap, we developed a remotely operated vehicle (ROV)-powered incubator instrument to carry out and compare results from in situ and shipboard RNA stable isotope probing (RNA-SIP) experiments to identify the key chemolithoautotrophic microbes and metabolisms in diffuse, low-temperature venting fluids from Axial Seamount. All the incubations showed microbial uptake of labeled bicarbonate primarily by thermophilic autotrophic Epsilonbacteraeota that oxidized hydrogen coupled with nitrate reduction. However, the in situ seafloor incubations showed higher abundances of transcripts annotated for aerobic processes, suggesting that oxygen was lost from the hydrothermal fluid samples prior to shipboard analysis. Furthermore, transcripts for thermal stress proteins such as heat shock chaperones and proteases were significantly more
abundant in the shipboard incubations, suggesting that depressurization induced thermal stress in the metabolically active microbes in these incubations. Together, the results indicate that while the autotrophic microbial communities in the shipboard and seafloor experiments behaved similarly, there were distinct differences that provide new insight into the activities of natural microbial assemblages under nearly native conditions in the ocean.

Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Organic biogeochemistry in West Mata, NE Lau hydrothermal vent fields (https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2020GC009481) (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
-Lin, H.‐T.*, Butterfield, D. A., Baker, E. T., Resing, J. A., Huber, J. A.*, & Cowen, J. P.*-
-*C-DEBI Contribution 563-

The impact of submarine hydrothermal systems on organic carbon in the ocean—one of the largest fixed carbon reservoirs on Earth—could be profound. Yet, different vent sites show diverse fluid chemical compositions and the subsequent biological responses. Observations from various vent sites are to evaluate hydrothermal systems’ impact on the ocean carbon cycle. A response cruise in May 2009 to an on‐going submarine eruption at West Mata Volcano, northeast Lau Basin, provided an opportunity to quantify the organic matter production in a back‐arc spreading hydrothermal system. Hydrothermal vent fluids contained elevated dissolved organic carbon, particulate organic carbon (POC), and particulate nitrogen (PN) relative to background seawater. The δ13C‐POC values for suspended particles in the diffuse vent fluids (−15.5‰ and −12.3‰) are distinct from those in background seawater (−23 ± 1‰), indicative of unique carbon synthesis pathways of the vent microbes from the seawater counterparts.
The first dissolved organic nitrogen concentrations reported for diffuse vents were similar to or higher than those for background seawater. Enhanced nitrogen fixation and denitrification removed 37%–89% of the total dissolved nitrogen in the recharging background seawater in the hydrothermal vent flow paths. The hydrothermal plume samples were enriched in POC and PN, indicating enhanced biological production. The total “dark” organic carbon production within the plume matches the thermodynamic prediction based on available reducing chemical substances supplied to the plume. This research combines the measured organic carbon contents with thermodynamic modeled results and demonstrates the importance of hydrothermal activities on the water column carbon production in the deep ocean.

Science Advances
Multiple carbon incorporation strategies support microbial survival in cold subseafloor crustal fluids (https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/18/eabg0153) (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
-Elizabeth Trembath-Reichert*, Sunita R. Shah Walter, Marc Alec Fontánez Ortiz, Patrick D. Carter*, Peter R. Girguis, and Julie A. Huber*-
-*C-DEBI Contribution 564-

Biogeochemical processes occurring in fluids that permeate oceanic crust make measurable contributions to the marine carbon cycle, but quantitative assessments of microbial impacts on this vast, subsurface carbon pool are lacking. We provide bulk and single-cell estimates of microbial biomass production from carbon and nitrogen substrates in cool, oxic basement fluids from the western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The wide range in carbon and nitrogen incorporation rates indicates a microbial community well poised for dynamic conditions, potentially anabolizing carbon and nitrogen at rates ranging from those observed in subsurface sediments to those found in on-axis hydrothermal vent environments. Bicarbonate incorporation rates were highest where fluids are most isolated from recharging bottom seawater, suggesting that anabolism of inorganic carbon may be a potential strategy for supplementing the ancient and recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon that is prevalent in the globally
distributed subseafloor crustal environment.

-Proceedings of the National Academy of Science-s
An alternative resource allocation strategy in the chemolithoautotrophic archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis (https://www.pnas.org/content/118/16/e2025854118) (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
-Albert L. Müller*, Wenyu Gu*, Vadim Patsalo, Jörg S. Deutzmann, James R. Williamson, Alfred M. Spormann*-
-*C-DEBI Contribution 565-

Most microorganisms in nature spend the majority of time in a state of slow or zero growth and slow metabolism under limited energy or nutrient flux rather than growing at maximum rates. Yet, most of our knowledge has been derived from studies on fast-growing bacteria. Here, we systematically characterized the physiology of the methanogenic archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis during slow growth. M. maripaludis was grown in continuous culture under energy (formate)-limiting conditions at different dilution rates ranging from 0.09 to 0.002 h^−1, the latter corresponding to 1% of its maximum growth rate under laboratory conditions (0.23 h^−1). While the specific rate of methanogenesis correlated with growth rate as expected, the fraction of cellular energy used for maintenance increased and the maintenance energy per biomass decreased at slower growth. Notably, proteome allocation between catabolic and anabolic pathways was invariant with growth rate. Unexpectedly, cells maintained their
maximum methanogenesis capacity over a wide range of growth rates, except for the lowest rates tested. Cell size, cellular DNA, RNA, and protein content as well as ribosome numbers also were largely invariant with growth rate. A reduced protein synthesis rate during slow growth was achieved by a reduction in ribosome activity rather than via the number of cellular ribosomes. Our data revealed a resource allocation strategy of a methanogenic archaeon during energy limitation that is fundamentally different from commonly studied versatile chemoheterotrophic bacteria such as E. coli.

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
Geothermobacter hydrogeniphilus sp. nov., a mesophilic, iron(III)-reducing bacterium from seafloor/subseafloor environments in the Pacific Ocean, and emended description of the genus Geothermobacter (https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/ijsem/10.1099/ijsem.0.004739) (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
-Ileana Pérez-Rodríguez*, Jessica K. Choi, Karla Abuyen**, Madeline Tyler**, Cynthia Ronkowski**, Eric Romero**​, Anthony Trujillo**, Jason Tremblay**, Isabella Viney, Pratixaben Savalia*​, Jan P. Amend–* (**C4-REUs!)-
-*C-DEBI Contribution 561-

A novel mesophilic, anaerobic, mixotrophic bacterium, with designated strains EPR-M^T and HR-1, was isolated from a semi-extinct hydrothermal vent at the East Pacific Rise and from an Fe-mat at Lō’ihi Seamount, respectively. The cells were Gram-negative, pleomorphic rods of about 2.0 µm in length and 0.5 µm in width. Strain EPR-M^T grew between 25 and 45 °C (optimum, 37.5-40 °C), 10 and 50 g l^-1 NaCl (optimum, 15-20 g l^-1) and pH 5.5 and 8.6 (optimum, pH 6.4). Strain HR-1 grew between 20 and 45 °C (optimum, 37.5-40 °C), 10 and 50 g l^-1 NaCl (optimum, 15-25 g l^-1) and pH 5.5 and 8.6 (optimum, pH 6.4). Shortest generation times with H[2] as the primary electron donor, CO[2] as the carbon source and ferric citrate as terminal electron acceptor were 6.7 and 5.5 h for EPR-M^T and HR-1, respectively. Fe(OH)[3], MnO[2], AsO[4]^3-, SO[4]^2-, SeO[4]^2-, S[2]O[3]^2-, S^0 and NO[3]^- were also used as terminal electron acceptors. Acetate, yeast extract, formate, lactate, tryptone and Casamino
acids also served as both electron donors and carbon sources. G+C content of the genomic DNA was 59.4 mol% for strain EPR-M^T and 59.2 mol% for strain HR-1. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses indicated that both strains were closely related to each other and to Geothermobacter ehrlichii, within the class δ-Proteobacteria (now within the class Desulfuromonadia). Based on phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses in addition to physiological and biochemical characteristics, both strains were found to represent a novel species within the genus Geothermobacter, for which the name Geothermobacter hydrogeniphilus sp. nov. is proposed. Geothermobacter hydrogeniphilus is represented by type strain EPR-M^T (=JCM 32109^T=KCTC 15831^T=ATCC TSD-173^T) and strain HR-1 (=JCM 32110=KCTC 15832).

Meetings & Activities
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-Reach Out Science Slam: C-DEBI Finalist on May 4, 2021 (https://www.mos.org/reach-out-challenge) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
C-DEBI finalist Sabrina Elkassas (MIT-WHOI) will tell her story live in the Reach Out Science Slam Finals on May 4 (7-8 PM Eastern) to a panel of expert science communicator judges. Check out her inspirational promo video (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UggJTN-eUHCL4235jLraCgHOk6CNYskn/view) , then watch her and 5 other early career researchers from around the country compete to tell the best science story in just 3 minutes and cast your votes for the Audience Choice Winner! Register for the Finals May 4, 2021.

-CJM: Call for Papers on Astrobiology – Insights into Microbial Life on Earth and Beyond (https://cdnsciencepub.com/do/10.1139/news.2020.10.07/abs/) –
Submission deadline extended: May 6, 2021.

-C-DEBI Virtual Meeting Series: New Microbial Physiology Techniques, May 7, 2021 (https://www.darkenergybiosphere.org/outputs-resources/virtual-meeting-series/) –
Our next virtual meeting features plenary speaker Roland Hatzenpichler (Montana State University) who will present “Next-generation physiology: Why and how to measure microbial phenotypes under (close to) in situ conditions” on Friday May 7 (10:30AM – 12:00PM Pacific). The virtual meeting series is held monthly during the first week of each month, with a regular rotation of science workshops and professional development workshops. Each workshop will contain about 90 minutes of programming, including invited speakers to give plenary tutorials and presentations, breakout icebreaker and discussion sessions, and plenary Q&A sessions. Register in advance for the meeting on May 7, 2021.

-IODP: Apply to Sail on Expedition 377 Arctic Ocean Paleoceanography MSP (https://usoceandiscovery.org/iodp-expedition-377/) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is accepting applications for scientific participants on Expedition 377 Arctic Ocean Paleoceanography, a Mission Specific Platform (MSP) expedition organized by the ECORD Science Operator and the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat. The overall goal of Expedition 377 is the recovery of a complete stratigraphic sedimentary record on the southern Lomonosov Ridge to meet the highest priority paleoceanographic objective: the continuous long-term Cenozoic climate history of the central Arctic Ocean. Opportunities exist for researchers (including graduate students) in all specialties. U.S.-affiliated scientists interested in participating in this expedition should apply to sail through the U.S. Science Support Program. The deadline to apply to sail is May 14, 2021.

-IODP: Host an Ocean Discovery Lecturer (https://usoceandiscovery.org/lecture-series/) –
Application deadline: May 15, 2021.

-NSLS-II Workshop: Characterization and Speciation of Marine Materials using Synchrotron Probes, May 19, 2021 (https://indico.bnl.gov/event/11092/) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
This free workshop on 19 May 2021 (13:00-18:00 Eastern Time) will bring together people who are using synchrotron methods on marine materials with potential new users in the marine science community, to share techniques and to address common challenges. This will educate and inform new users in this growing area of interest, to help them build on existing experiences and be successful in proposing and collecting synchrotron data on marine materials. Hosted by Sarah Nicholas (NSLS-II), Rose Jones (University of Minnesota), and Paul Northrup (Stony Brook University), speakers include Brandy Toner (University of Minnesota), Alesandra Leri (Manhattan Marymount College), Simon Ussher (Plymouth University), Colleen Hoffman (University of Washington), Phoebe Lam (University of California, Santa Cruz), Ben Twining (Bigelow Laboratory for Marine Sciences), and Wen Hu (NSLS-II) who will discuss particle chemistry, plankton, halides, hydrothermal, and sediments. This workshop is part of the National
Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-ll) and Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) Users’ Meeting, and the registration deadline is May 17, 2021.

-National Microbiome Data Collaborative: Ambassador Program (https://microbiomedata.org/community/ambassadors/) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
The National Microbiome Data Collaborative (NMDC) team is building an integrated data science ecosystem that leverages existing data standards, data resources, and infrastructure in the microbiome research space. The NMDC is launching the NMDC Ambassador program to provide training and support for early career researchers who are motivated to engage with their respective research communities to lower barriers to adoption of metadata standards. We invite applications from early career leaders who are: familiar with the challenges of discovering, accessing, and reusing microbiome data; committed to working with the NMDC to make microbiome data findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR); motivated to engage with researchers in their community; committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability (IDEA). Apply by May 21, 2021.

-JOIDES Resolution Facility Board: Request for Information (http://www.iodp.org/proposals/submitting-proposals) –
Submit by June 10, 2021 for consideration by the JRFB.

-NAS: Call for “Ocean-Shot” Concepts: Transformative Research for the Decade (https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/us-national-committee-on-ocean-science-for-sustainable-development-2021-2030#sl-three-columns-e33ae106-08bc-49e3-8baf-078797861e38) –
The next call for submissions is due July 1, 2021.

Ongoing Activities:
* -C-DEBI: Community Workshop Support (http://www.darkenergybiosphere.org/research-activities/research-support/workshops/) –
* Unlearning Racism in Geoscience (URGE) (https://urgeoscience.org/) : January 18 to May 7, 2021
* Ridge Seminar Series (https://ridgeseminarseries.wordpress.com/)

Proposal Calls
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-NSF: Convergence Accelerator Phases I and II for the 2021 Cohort (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505795&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund) –
Letter of Intent Due Date for Phase I Full Proposals: May 5, 2021.

-NSF: Understanding the Rules of Life: Emergent Networks (URoL:EN) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21560/nsf21560.htm) –
Predicting Transformation of Living Systems in Evolving Environments. Full proposal deadline: May 10, 2021.

-NSF BIO: LEAding cultural change through Professional Societies (LEAPS) of Biology (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21049/nsf21049.jsp) –
Proposals should be submitted by May 14, 2021.

-NSF: Geoscience Opportunities for Leadership in Diversity – Expanding the Network (GOLD-EN) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21071/nsf21071.jsp) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
To continue expansion and scaling efforts from NSF’s Geosciences Opportunities for Leadership in Diversity (GOLD) Program and related activities to broaden participation in the geosciences, and to develop unique approaches for greater inclusion in the geoscience education and research community, NSF welcomes submission of the following types of proposals: Early-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) Proposals, Conference Proposals, and Research Coordination Networks (RCNs). Proposals must be received by June 1, 2021.

-NSF: Research Collaboration Opportunity in Europe for NSF Awardees (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21068/nsf21068.jsp) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
To further scientific and technological cooperation between the United States and the European Community, the National Science Foundation and the European Research Council signed an Implementing Arrangement on October 29, 2019, to enable U.S.-based scientists and engineers with active NSF awards, particularly those early in their careers, to pursue research collaboration with European colleagues supported through EU-funded European Research Council (ERC) grants. Supplemental funding may be used to support travel for the PI, co-PI, or postdocs funded on the award. NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellows with active Fellowships also are eligible to submit to this opportunity. Requests must be received at NSF at least 3 months prior to the proposed visit, but no later than June 7, 2021.

-NSF: Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503214) –
Program officers will hold two NSF-wide webinars about the CAREER program on May 14, 2021 and May 20, 2021 (both 1-3PM Eastern Time). Full proposal deadline: July 26, 2021.

-NSF: Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions (ADVANCE) (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5383) –
Various deadlines from August 2, 2021 and onward.

-NSF OCE: Chemical Oceanography (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=11698) –
Full proposal target dates: August 16, 2021 and February 15, 2022.

-NSF OCE: Physical Oceanography (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12729) –
Full proposal target dates: August 16, 2021 and February 15, 2022.

-NSF: Research Traineeship (NRT) Program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505015) –
Full proposal deadline date: September 6, 2021.

-NSF OISE: International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20598/nsf20598.htm) –
Track I: IRES Sites (IS) due date: September 21, 2021. Track II: Advanced Studies Institutes (ASI) due date: September 28, 2021.

-NSF: Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (NSF INCLUDES) (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505289) –
Letter of intent deadline date: October 4, 2021.

-NSF: Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21511/nsf21511.htm) –
Full proposal deadline: October 11, 2021.

-NSF GEO: Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (OCE-PRF) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21538/nsf21538.htm) –
Full proposal deadlines: November 12, 2021.

-NSF HRD: Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5483) –
See the program solicitation for proposal windows and deadlines through 2021.

-NSF BIO: Integrative Research in Biology (IntBIO) (https://nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505850&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund) –
Full proposal deadline date: January 25, 2022.

-NSF: Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505749) –
Full proposal target date: February 7, 2022.

-NSF BIO / NIH: Enabling Discovery through GEnomics (EDGE (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21546/nsf21546.htm) )-
Full proposal deadlines: February 17, 2022.

Rolling Calls:
* -C-DEBI: Research Exchange Program (http://www.darkenergybiosphere.org/research-activities/research-support/exchange/) –
* IODP-USSSP: Proposals for Pre-Drilling Activities (http://usoceandiscovery.org/pre-drilling-activities/)
* NSF GEO: Antarctic Research Program Solicitation (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21567/nsf21567.htm)
* NSF GEO: Arctic Research Program Solicitation (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21526/nsf21526.htm)
* NSF GEO: Geoscience Opportunities for Leadership in Diversity (GOLD) (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505906)
* -NSF OCE: Biological Oceanography (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=11696) –
* NSF BIO IOS: IMAGiNE FG: Functional Genomics (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21034/nsf21034.jsp)
* NSF BIO DEB: Poorly Sampled and Unknown Taxa (PurSUiT) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20059/nsf20059.jsp)
* NSF BIO: Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503634)
* NSF BIO: Infrastructure Innovation for Biological Research (IIBR) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21502/nsf21502.htm)
* NSF BIO: Tool Development for Cell Biology (Tools4Cells) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21057/nsf21057.jsp)
* NSF: NSF and US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) Research Cooperation (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20094/nsf20094.jsp)
* NSF BIO: NSF and UK Research and Innovation BBSRC Research Cooperation (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20118/nsf20118.jsp)
* NSF BIO: Research Assistantships for High School Students (RAHSS) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18088/nsf18088.jsp)
* NSF BIO: Research Experience for Teachers (RET) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18089/nsf18089.jsp)
* NSF DMS / MCB: Dear Colleague Letter: Models for Uncovering Rules and Unexpected Phenomena in Biological Systems (MODULUS) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21069/nsf21069.jsp) (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
* NSF MCB: Transitions to Excellence in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Research (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505821)
* NSF: Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) Supplement (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21013/nsf21013.jsp)
* NSF: Career-Life Balance (CLB) Supplement (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21021/nsf21021.jsp)
* UNOLS: Cruise Opportunity Program (https://www.unols.org/unols-cruise-opportunity-program)

Employment
————————————————————

-Queen Mary University of London: Lectureship (Asst. Prof.) in Physical Geography/Environmental Science (https://webapps2.is.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/job.action?jobID=5770) –
The closing date for applications is May 12, 2021.

-IODP: Forum Chair (https://www.iodp.org/forum-chair-call-for-applications-2021/file) –
Deadline: May 14, 2021.

-NSF OCE: Marine Geology and Geophysics Program Director (https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/599779800) — NEW!
The Marine Geology and Geophysics (MGG) Program within the Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) in the Directorate of Geosciences (GEO) at the National Science Foundation has announced a nationwide search for a permanent Program Director with experience and expertise in marine geophysics. The MGG Program supports research on all aspects of the geology and geophysics of ocean basins and margins and those of the Great Lakes. The person selected for this position will work with the other Program Directors who oversee the MGG Program to balance the award portfolio across the broad range of disciplines supported by the Program. The Program Director’s core duties and responsibilities will be administering the merit review process, proposal recommendations, and coordinating and working with other programs in NSF and other Federal agencies and organizations. The deadline for applications is May 28, 2021.

-University of Maryland, Baltimore County: Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory Associate (https://cresst2.umd.edu/opportunities/Isotope%20Geochemistry%20Laboratory%20Associate.pdf) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) invites applications for a lab technician in the isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) lab as a part of the Planetary Environments Laboratory at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, MD. The position consists of an appointment in UMBC’s Center for Space Sciences and Technology (CSST), funded by NASA through the Center for Research and Exploration in Space Sciences & Technology II (CRESST II) cooperative agreement. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience with analytical methods that involve both inorganic and organic geochemical approaches to understanding the isotopic composition of geologic and biologic materials. Applicant should have experience operating and troubleshooting isotope ratio mass spectrometers (IRMS) with peripheral instruments such as elemental analyzers, gas chromatography, pyrolysis and combustion reactors, and trace gas preparation and preconcentration devices. This position would also
support ongoing R&A projects in the lab and include ocean worlds analog experiments, method development for pyroprobe-GC-IRMS, and analysis of geological and synthetic samples. The position will remain available until filled but applications received by May 30, 2021 will receive best consideration.

-Texas A&M University: Assistant Professor in Oceanography (https://apply.interfolio.com/86642) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
The Department of Oceanography at Texas A&M University is seeking applications for one full-time tenure-track faculty position with a 9-month academic appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor. The successful candidate should apply observational, experimental, theoretical, analytical, data-science, or modeling methods to make new and innovative oceanographic discoveries. We welcome applications from individuals with expertise in any area of oceanography, including those that would enhance interdisciplinary initiatives. We particularly welcome applications from individuals with demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion with disciplinary interests in biogeochemical/Earth system modeling, marine ecology, or marine sedimentology/geophysics, and/or who can leverage existing TAMU Geoscience Centers of Excellence. Initial review of applications will begin on September 1, 2021 and continue until the position is filled.

-Pennsylvania State University: Postdoctoral Researcher on Microbial Metabolic Networks (https://sites.psu.edu/macaladylab/) –
Contact Jenn Macalady directly for details like things we like about living in State College (https://sites.psu.edu/macaladylab/state-college/) .

-Heising-Simons Foundation: Science Program Officer (https://www.hsfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Science-Program-Officer.pdf) –

-MBARI: Principal Investigator or Principal Engineer (focus on seafloor patterns and processes) (https://www.mbari.org/principal_investigator_engineer/) –