[Plsfaculty] FW: Pessarakli-Postdoctoral Position Inquiry

[Caron, Joy E - (jerogers)]

>From Mohammad Pessarakli:


From: Bingchang Zhang [mailto:zhangbingchang at expertsalons.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2015 11:44 PM
To: Pessarakli, Mohammad - (pessarak) <pessarak at email.arizona.edu<mailto:pessarak at email.arizona.edu>>
Subject: Pessarakli-Postdoctoral Position Inquiry

Dear Dr. Pessarakli,
I’m writing to inquire the possibility for a post-doctoral position in your laboratory. Please allow me to make a self-introduction first. I had finished my PhD in Plant Ecology in 2009 in Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China, where I continued to study on desert algae and biological soil crust ever since.

I am interested in exploring microbial ecology, ecosystem processes, especially carbon, water, and nutrient cycling, plant physiology and ecology, plant-soil interaction, biodiversity and ecosystem function. During the stage of my PhD, my research focused on ecology and soil biology, which furnished me with good accumulation of culturing technique, microscopic technique, and cyanobacteria identification. I also conducted measurement on soil enzyme and microbial biomass and have good command of molecular biology skills including DNA extract, PCR amplification, cloning, sequencing, alignment, phylogenetic tree construction and bioinformatics.

In recent years, my research focused on taxonomy of cyanobacteria and algae in the Gurbantunggut Desert, Xinjiang, China. The research have make achievements in three aspects below:
1)   Fifty-nine taxa of cultured algae were found in biological soil crusts (BSCs) in Gurbantunggut Desert, which belonged to 33 genus, 20 families, 4 divisions. Species diversity of algae in Guebantunggut Desert was higher than that of other desert areas. The discovery indicated that diversity of microenvironments, rich diversity of algae in this area has great impact in the formation of fixed and semi-fixed desert. Some new species were found in BSCs in Gurbantunggut Desert, including one new species (Chroococcidiopsis Nov. sp.) and three new record species in China （Leptolyngbya badia, Leptolyngbya boryana, Microcooleus steenstrupii). Meanwhile, three cyanobacteria strains will be confirmed as new species and new genus.
2)   Investigation on species composition and biomass in different locations of sand dune and different areas of desert was conducted. Moreover, the relationship between algal distribution and environmental factors was also explored. We have found the main environmental factors affecting algal distribution include pH, available N, available K, total P, total K, moisture and light. Change of soil physical-chemical properties account for change of dominant species in different environments. In region scale, soil nutrients, soil salts and soil texture the main reasons affecting species composition and richness of algae.
3)   Now we have our dedication in the research about restoration and application, to explore the restoration methods in desert by using cyanobacteria and moss. Several inventing patent were awarded so far.

I have three publication in English and more than ten papers in relative research field, and have successfully applied two projects from National natural Science Foundation of China and Chinese Academy of Science and both the two projects were finished with satisfaction. However, I feel my research field is too limited and I would like to learn more knowledge, skills and research ideas from experienced professor. I am with good ability of reading English references and writing paper, and a highly motivated, creative individual who works well independently as wells as collaboratively on teams of scientists from diverse backgrounds.

Enclosed is my curriculum vitae, which includes my research and publication record. I would be happy to submit any additional materials at your request. I look forward to your response, and appreciate your time and consideration. Please feel free to contact me via bczhang at hotmail.com<mailto:bczhang at hotmail.com>.

Sincerely,

Bingchang Zhang


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