Position Description

Study on the degradation of microplastics by microbiotic algae. 

Algae are often used as test organisms to study the toxicity of microplastics. However, algae can degrade microplastics, and algae have tractable properties. There is still a lack of research on the algae degradation mechanism. The main view is that algae produce secreted extracellular multimers on the surface of microplastics, and that polymers can degrade microplastics, but effective experimental evidence is lacking. The proposed study on the degradation mechanism of aquatic algae will includes the following content:

(1) Study on the degradation ability of different algae to some species of microplastics.

Different types of microalgae (such as Rhine algae, blue-green algae, green photosynthetic algae) have different types of microplastic degradation abilities. We will look for algae with the strongest degradation ability among several species to explore the degradation mechanism of aquatic algae on microplastics for the next step.

(2) Study on the relationship between algae degradation of microplastics and environmental conditions.

Through orthogonal experiments, a relationship between algal degradation and environmental conditions was found. We will explore the external controlled factors of algal degradation of microplastics.

(3) Study on the relationship between algae-degraded microplastics and extracellular polymers.

Through orthogonal experiments, we will explore the relationship between microplastic degradation and the production of polymer extracellular polymers under different environmental conditions, and clarify the mechanism of microplastic response to extracellular polymers of algae.

Basic information of PIFI for Visiting fellows

The CAS President's International Fellowship Initiative, PIFI, is a specific funding program to attract talented foreigners to CAS for scientific exchanges and research cooperation. It is open to scientific research personnel from around the globe.

For Visiting fellows, we offer 40,000 yuan for a full professors, 30,000 yuan for an associate professor and 20,000 yuan for an assistant professors per month respectively to support them to carry out cooperative projects at CAS-affiliated institutions for 2-9 months. We also offer round trip flight ticket subsidy.

The following requirements must be met if you would like to apply:

1) Are an assistant professor or above.

2) Have worked in a well-known university or research institution.

3) Have a cooperative research proposal with a CAS host researcher and the intention to come to China.

Job details

Address

China, Xiamen

Deadline

2028-12-31

Discipline

Chemistry

Job Category

Associate Researcher

Job Type

Full-time Employment

Pre-tax Salary(RMB/Month)

20000 to 40000

Available Position(s)

1

Program/Project Title

PIFI for Visiting Scholar

Contact Name

Zhang Xian

Contact Information

xzhang@iue.ac.cn

Research Institution

Institute of Urban Environment