Postdoctoral position - biomarker lipid application in soil profiles

This postdoctoral position at ETH Zürich is offered within the Earth Ecosystem Dynamics Group, part of the Geological Institute in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. The successful candidate will join a dynamic research team working on the SNSF-funded ROOTS project, led by Prof. Cindy De Jonge, which aims to reconstruct soil fertility across time and space. The research focuses on developing subsurface mineral soil profiles as geological archives for lipid biomarkers and soil organic matter composition, providing historical perspectives on soil fertility and carbon storage. The project addresses the critical question of whether soils will continue to store atmospheric CO2 in the future, with soil fertility potentially limiting primary production and belowground carbon storage. By examining past changes in soil fertility and carbon storage, the research seeks to elucidate long-term processes that cannot be captured by short-term experimental approaches. The postdoctoral researcher will test the use of mineral soil columns as geological archives, comparing biomarker profiles that reflect past fertility changes with bulk organic matter parameters indicating source and conservation. The position involves integrating into a group where two PhD students are developing lipid biomarkers for soil fertility, proposing independent research approaches, and utilizing a range of organic geochemical methods (GC-FID, GC-MS, HPLC-APCI-MS, HPLC-ESI-Orbitrap). Collaboration with the group of Sebastian Doetterl allows for additional soil parameter measurements. The postdoc will also take minor responsibilities for laboratory equipment, ensuring high-quality laboratory work and measurements, and will be expected to generate datasets, draft, and finalize manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication in collaboration with the PI. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in organic geochemistry or soil science, with experience in soil cores and/or soil organic matter description and quantification. The position values diversity and well-being, offering flexible working hours, part-time options, and home office possibilities to support work-life balance. The contract is for two years, with financial support for fieldwork and conference attendance, and opportunities to gain teaching experience. ETH Zürich is a world-class institution renowned for its excellence in science and technology, providing an inclusive and sustainable environment for research and education. Applications must be submitted online by 14 November 2025, including a motivation letter, CV, a short narrative of PhD outcomes, and contact details for two references. For further information, candidates may contact Prof. Cindy De Jonge (no applications via email).