C-DEBI Newsletter – October 15, 2020

C-DEBI Newsletter – October 15, 2020
This newsletter is also accessible via our website (https://www.darkenergybiosphere.org) .

Publications & Press
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Environmental Microbiology Reports
Time as a microbial resource (http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1758-2229.12892) (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
Karen G. Lloyd*
*C-DEBI Contribution 540

Microbes need resources for energy and cellular building material. They also need access to clement conditions with liquid water and a cellular damage rate that is lower than repair. When deprived of resources and clement conditions, microbes often enter some form of dormancy (e.g., by ceasing cell division, slowing metabolic rate, or forming an endospore) until they can grow again (Lennon and Jones, 2011 (https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1758-2229.12892#emi412892-bib-0020) ). For example, at night, phototrophs wait for the sun to return. In winter, soil microbes wait for warmer temperatures. Microbes that cause diseases like tuberculosis can stay dormant for years, waiting for the cessation of antibiotic or immune system bombardment (Alnimr, 2015 (https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1758-2229.12892#emi412892-bib-0001) ). But what about longer timescales? Unlike multicellular life, microbes survive in an extremely broad range of conditions and
can access an amazing variety of resources to maintain cellular functions in the absence of cell division (Finkel and Kolter, 1999 (https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1758-2229.12892#emi412892-bib-0012) ). This means that they have the potential to be dormant for much longer than a few months or years. There is no theoretical reason microbes cannot survive on maintenance energy for hundreds or thousands of years, or longer, with little to no cell proliferation (Hoehler and Jørgensen, 2013 (https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1758-2229.12892#emi412892-bib-0014) ; Lever et al., 2015 (https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1758-2229.12892#emi412892-bib-0021) ). Given this lack of theoretical constraints on the length of microbial dormancy intervals, two questions arise, (i) is there evidence for the existence of organisms experiencing very long dormancies? And (ii) what could be the advantages of such long wait times?

OSF Preprints
C-DEBI NextGen 2019 Early Career perspective on ‘What’s Next?’: Upcoming Challenges and Opportunities (http://dx.doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/7xkpq) (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) – NEW!
Jacqueline Goordial, Sarah Hu, Benjamin J. Tully

The deep biosphere (subsurface life, including below the seafloor in rocks and sediments) makes up a substantial portion of the planet and harbors vast amounts of microbial life. The Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations (C-DEBI) specializes in the exploration of microbial life, geochemistry, and hydrology in the subsurface (NSF-funded Science Technology Center). Since C-DEBI was established (2010), the number of scientists with a primary focus on deep biosphere research has increased within the last decade as a direct result of efforts from C-DEBI. The objective of this white paper is to present the broad ideas of what the future of deep biosphere research may look like, from the perspective of early career researchers (graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, pre-tenure faculty).

Have an upcoming manuscript about the deep subseafloor biosphere and want to increase your press coverage? NSF’s Office of Legislative and Public Affairs is looking to coordinate press releases between your home institution and the NSF to coincide with the date of publication. Please contact us as soon as your publication is accepted! (mailto:janicak@usc.edu)

Meetings & Activities
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C-DEBI: Networked Speaker Series Seminar, Thursday, November 5, 2020,12:30pm PST (https://www.darkenergybiosphere.org/outputs-resources/networked-speaker-series/nss-julia-mcgonigle/) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) — NEW!
With Dr. Julia McGonigle, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences on “Formate metabolism by Chloroflexi is key in unlocking deep carbon for the Lost City chimney ecosystem.” Abstract: The Lost City hydrothermal field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge supports dense microbial life on towering calcium carbonate chimney structures. This microbial life is fueled by chemical reactions between the ultramafic rock under the chimneys and ambient seawater. These serpentinization reactions provide reducing power (as hydrogen gas) and organic compounds that can serve as microbial food. Previous studies have characterized the interior of the chimneys as a single-species biofilm inhabited by the Lost City Methanosarcinales, but genomic evidence indicating this methanogen is able to metabolize the most abundant carbon source (formate) is lacking. I will present recent metagenomic results that suggest the non-formate utilizing species inhabiting Lost City chimney biofilms might rely on carbon-cycling activity of a
Chloroflexi population. I will also present current comparative genomic work on a distantly-related Chloroflexi population, obtained through hydrothermal fluid sampling, suspected to reside in the subsurface habitat under the Lost City chimneys.

Missed the last NSS seminar with Dr. Rose Jones, University of Minnesota on “Menu for a deep microbe; attempts in understanding microbe-mineral interactions in the deep marine seafloor”? Watch it on YouTube (https://youtu.be/YrehulKKqrc) .

-National Academies: Introducing the National Committee for the Decade of Ocean Science, October 16, 2020, 11am PDT (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introducing-the-national-committee-for-the-decade-of-ocean-science-tickets-122762962325?aff=odeimcmailchimp&mc_cid=71d24557de&mc_eid=e006f54baf) –
The Committee is hosting a public session Meet the Committee and Help Define the Decade on Friday, October 16, 2020, from 2:00-4:00PM EDT.

Ongoing Activities:
* C-DEBI: Rolling call for Community Workshop support (http://www.darkenergybiosphere.org/research-activities/research-support/workshops/)
* C-DEBI: Protocols.io Group Page (https://www.protocols.io/groups/center-for-dark-energy-biosphere-investigations)
* C-DEBI: Subseafloor Cultures Database (http://www.darkenergybiosphere.org/outputs-resources/subseafloor-cultures-database/)
* C-DEBI: Join us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/c-debi-center-for-dark-energy-biosphere-investigations/)

Proposal Calls
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NSF: Dear Colleague Letter: Removal of target dates for the Biological Oceanography Program in the Division of Ocean Sciences in the Directorate for Geosciences (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20130/nsf20130.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) — -NEW!
The Biological Oceanography Program in the Division of Ocean Sciences will eliminate target dates and accept proposals for consideration at any time after January 1, 2021. This action is being taken to enable greater flexibility for the community and reduce the burden on investigators, reviewers, and submitting institutions. Proposals requesting ship time should allow for at least 18 months of lead time for those projects requiring Academic Research Fleet Global- or Ocean-Class vessels and at least 12 months for all other ship requests. The Biological Oceanography Program will maintain a high-quality merit review system using ad hoc mail reviews and panels, as appropriate. Evidence from other NSF programs that have eliminated deadlines shows that proposal pressure is reduced and success rates increase with more highly-ranked proposals being funded. The Geosciences Directorate expects the change will reduce the burden on institutions and the community by spreading out proposal submission
requests over the course of the year, as opposed to having submissions limited to two specific time windows. The Program hopes that investigators will have more time to build strong collaborations; be more creative without the pressure of a deadline; and propose more complex, interdisciplinary projects. The Biological Oceanography Program will continue its current practice in which a proposal is ineligible for resubmission until a minimum of one year has passed since its initial submission. A proposal on the same general topic by the same PI team is considered a resubmission. This moratorium allows investigators the time required to thoughtfully consider the results of the merit review and revise or restructure their proposal accordingly. Only proposals submitted to the Biological Oceanography Core Program in the Division of Ocean Sciences are affected by this change. Submissions to other Programs and funding opportunities in the Division of Ocean Sciences will continue to follow the
deadlines outlined in their respective solicitations and webpages. The Program will continually assess the impact of this change on the merit review goals outlined above. The Program Directors from the Biological Oceanography Program have one more scheduled Town Hall (register for the zoom webinar (https://nsf.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_4_gWi0ymQ66FFKmUvNb5sA) ) on October 21, 2020 to explain the change and address questions from the community.

NSF: Dear Colleague Letter: Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21013/nsf21013.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) — -NEW!
Fostering the growth of a globally competitive and diverse research workforce and advancing the scientific and innovation skills of the U.S. is a; strategic objective of the National Science Foundation (NSF). U.S. global competitiveness depends critically on the readiness of the Nation’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce and NSF seeks to continue to invest in programs that directly advance this workforce. As part of this effort, a supplemental funding opportunity is available in fiscal years FY 2021 and beyond to provide graduate students with experiential learning opportunities through research internships to acquire core professional competencies and skills to support careers in any sector of the U.S. economy. NSF currently invests in a number of graduate student preparedness activities and has historically encouraged principal investigators (PIs) to include such activities in research proposals to NSF. NSF will consider supplemental funding requests for up
to an additional six months of graduate student support on active NSF grants with the following goals: 1) To provide graduate students with the opportunity to augment their research assistantships or NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) fellowships with non-academic research internship activities and training opportunities that will complement their academic research training; 2) To allow graduate students to pursue new activities aimed at acquiring professional development experience that will enhance their preparation for multiple career pathways after graduation; 3) and To encourage the participation of graduate students from underrepresented groups such as women, persons with disabilities, underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), veterans, and persons from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Supplemental funding requests may be submitted at any time with a target date of April 15th for each Fiscal Year.

NSF: Dear Colleague Letter: Division of Ocean Sciences’ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Opportunities for 2021 (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20131/nsf20131.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) — -NEW!
This fall, NSF’s Division of Ocean Sciences intends to announce a funding opportunity for Postdoctoral Research Fellowships to provide opportunities for scientists early in their careers to work within and across traditional disciplinary lines, develop partnerships, and avail themselves of unique resources, sites, and facilities. The fellowship program will provide beginning investigators of significant potential with experiences that will further prepare them for positions of leadership in the scientific community. During their PRF tenure, fellows will affiliate with an appropriate research institution(s) and conduct research on topics supported by OCE. NSF is committed to supporting early career researchers during the national crisis created by the COVID19 pandemic. The pandemic has put the country’s academic enterprise under extreme duress. The human impact on all academic members is acute, but especially so for graduate students and early-career scientists. The OCE PRF program will
provide important employment options for early career scientists. OCE anticipates awarding about fifteen Postdoctoral Fellowships with approximate start dates of mid 2021 or later. The OCE PRF will emphasize strong scientific merit in a field of science supported by the Division of Ocean Sciences and will require letters of support from a mentor(s). The purview of OCE includes a diversity of disciplinary and cross-disciplinary areas. Projects that make use of existing data, including data archived though NSF-supported data centers such as the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), the Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO), and the sites hosted by the Interdisciplinary Earth Data Alliance (IEDA), such as the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS), and EarthChem, are encouraged. Information regarding the OCE PRF funding opportunity will be available this fall via the NSF website.

-NSF: Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20587/nsf20587.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click) –
Application deadlines: October 19-22, 2020.

-IODP: Call for Drilling Proposals (http://iodp.org/proposals/call-for-proposals) –
The next submission deadline (following October 21, 2020) will be in early April, 2021.

Simons Foundation: 2021 Early Career Investigator in Marine Microbial Ecology and Evolution Awards (https://www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons-early-career-investigator-in-marine-microbial-ecology-and-evolution-awards/) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) — -NEW!
Microbes inhabit and sustain all habitats on Earth. In the oceans, microbes capture solar energy, catalyze biogeochemical transformations of important elements, produce and consume greenhouse gases, and provide the base of the food web. The purpose of these awards is to help launch the careers of outstanding investigators in the field of marine microbial ecology and evolution who will advance our understanding through experiments, modeling or theory. Investigators must be currently active in research on microbial ecology and/or evolution, excluding research focusing on the microbiomes of animals or plants. Investigators with backgrounds in different fields are encouraged to apply. Reference Letters Deadline: October 30, 2020. LOI Deadline: November 5, 2020.

CIFAR: Azrieli Global Scholars (https://www.cifar.ca/next-gen/global-scholars) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) — -NEW!
The CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program supports exceptional early-career researchers with funding, mentorship, a global network, and professional skills development. Application Deadline: October 30, 2021.

-Moore: Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Project: Call for Proposals (https://www.sanger.ac.uk/collaboration/aquatic-symbiosis-project/) –
Applications are due November 1, 2020.

-NSF: International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20598/nsf20598.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click) –
Track I: IRES Sites (IS) due dates: November 12, 2020 and September 21, 2021. Track II: Advanced Studies Institutes (ASI) due dates: November 9, 2020 and September 28, 2021.

-NSF: Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Pathways into the Earth, Ocean, Polar and Atmospheric & Geospace Sciences (IUSE:GEOPAths) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20516/nsf20516.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click) –
Letter of Intent Due Date: November 17, 2020.

-NSF: Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20602/nsf20602.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click) –
Full proposal deadline: November 18, 2020.

-NSF: Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5483&WT.mc_id=USNSF_46&WT.mc_ev=click) –
Small Grants for Research (SGR) deadline: December 10, 2020.

USGS: Mendenhall Research Fellowship: Geology, geochemistry and global context of deep-ocean marine minerals (https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/19-8-geology-geochemistry-and-global-context-deep-ocean-marine-minerals) – (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116386) — -NEW!
We seek a postdoctoral scholar who can make a fundamental contribution to marine mineral research. Proposed work may use either archival samples (extensive USGS and other sample sets exist), or propose the collection of new samples, as feasible. Proposed work may focus in any of the following areas: (1) experimental studies regarding the environmental consequences of marine mineral extraction, (2) targeted speciation and extractability studies of marine critical minerals, (3) estimates of marine minerals within the context of global mineral resources, including terrestrial minerals, (4) statistical analyses of existing marine mineral datasets, (5) relating terrestrial and marine minerals in adjacent settings or (6) developing geophysical techniques to detect or study marine minerals. Other topics may be of interest. In particular, we welcome applications that cross disciplinary boundaries between marine science and geology, and applications that focus on the distribution, extent, or
relevance of critical minerals in marine mineral deposits. Proposals that tie in the Earth MRI framework (Hofstra and Kreiner, 2020) are also welcome. These positions are competitive and filled based on availability of funds and qualified applicants; the deadline for submission of applications, which include research proposals, will be January 4, 2021.

-NSF: Research Traineeship (NRT) Program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505015&WT.mc_id=USNSF_46&WT.mc_ev=click) –
Full Proposal Deadline Date: February 6, 2021.

-NSF: Biological Oceanography (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=11696&WT.mc_id=USNSF_46&WT.mc_ev=click) –
Full proposal target date: February 15, 2021.

-NSF: Chemical Oceanography (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=11698&WT.mc_id=USNSF_46&WT.mc_ev=click) –
Full proposal target date: February 15, 2021.

-NSF: Physical Oceanography (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12729&WT.mc_id=USNSF_46&WT.mc_ev=click) –
Full proposal target date: February 15, 2021.

-JGI: CSP New Investigator (https://jgi.doe.gov/user-programs/program-info/csp-overview/csp-new-investigator/) –
Next deadline: March 1, 2021.

Rolling Calls:
* C-DEBI: Rolling call for Research Exchange proposals (http://www.darkenergybiosphere.org/research-activities/research-support/exchange/)
* IODP-USSSP: Proposals for Pre-Drilling Activities (http://usoceandiscovery.org/pre-drilling-activities/)
* NSF: Antarctic Research Program Solicitation (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20568/nsf20568.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click)
* NSF: Arctic Sciences Program Solicitation (http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2016/nsf16595/nsf16595.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click)
* NSF: DCL: Collaborative Proposals under NSF and US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) Collaborative Research Opportunities (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20094/nsf20094.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click)
* NSF: DCL Colleague Letter: Poorly Sampled and Unknown Taxa (PurSUiT) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20059/nsf20059.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click)
* NSF: DCL: UKRI/BBSRC-NSF/BIO Lead Agency Opportunity in Biological Informatics, Microbes and the Host Immune System, Quantum Biology and Synthetic Cell (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20118/nsf20118.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click)
* NSF: Division of Environmental Biology (core programs) (DEB) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20502/nsf20502.htm)
* NSF: Enabling Discovery through GEnomic Tools (EDGE) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20532/nsf20532.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click)
* NSF: Infrastructure Innovation for Biological Research (IIBR) (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18595/nsf18595.htm)
* NSF: Instrument Capacity for Biological Research (ICBR) (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505542&WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click)
* NSF: Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18102/nsf18102.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_179)
* NSF: Research Assistantships for High School Students (RAHSS): Funding to Broaden Participation in the Biological Sciences (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18088/nsf18088.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click)
* NSF: Research Experience for Teachers (RET): Funding Opportunity in the Biological Sciences (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18089/nsf18089.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click)
* UNOLS: Cruise Opportunity Program (https://www.unols.org/unols-cruise-opportunity-program)

Employment
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-NC State U: Assistant Professor – Chemical Oceanography (https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/133726) –
Review of applications began on October 12, 2020 and the position will remain open until filled.

-MSU: Postdoctoral Researcher position on Asgard archaea ecophysiology (http://nebula.wsimg.com/0dd35b7a90a75a854de76f3fcdb9cb4e?AccessKeyId=48B9AC89493A56C67DF6&disposition=0&alloworigin=1) –
We currently expect the earliest start date to be November 1, 2020 but all applicants able to start the position by April 1, 2021 will be considered.

-MBARI: Principal Investigator or Principal Engineer (focus on seafloor patterns and processes) (https://www.mbari.org/principal_investigator_engineer/) –
We are currently receiving applications for this position, which will remain open until filled.

Don’t forget to email me with any items you’d like to share in future newsletters! We will also broadcast this information on our social media outlets, Twitter and Facebook. You are what makes our deep biosphere community!

Best,

Matt

—
Matthew Janicak
Data Manager
Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations (C-DEBI)
University of Southern California
janicak@usc.edu (mailto:janicak@usc.edu)
3616 Trousdale Pkwy, AHF 209, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371
Phone: 708-691-9563, Fax: 213-740-2437
Exploring life beneath the seafloor and making transformative discoveries that advance science, benefit society, and inspire people of all ages and origins.