PhD position in Ecology

Department of Ecology
At the Ecology Centre of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), in Uppsala, Sweden, we conduct research on populations, communities and ecosystems. We generate knowledge on how land use and climate affect animals, plants, nutrient cycling and greenhouse gas balance, and develop sustainable solutions for the future. Active outreach and frequent dialogue with stakeholders are key activities.

Phylogenetic community ecology from a global sampling network
Description:
The coexistence of species in local assemblages results from the interplay between ecological and historical processes. Ecological processes involve both biotic (competition, predation, mutualism, etc) and abiotic (climatic niche preference) impacts – which may partly be reflected by species traits. Historical processes integrate past evolutionary dynamics over recent (post last glaciation) and more ancient (geological) times. Identifying the relative importance of these processes at different geographic and environmental scale is key to understand the mechanisms structuring extant biodiversity.

The PhD is part of the LIFEPLAN project, which generates standardized community-level data across all continents over multiple years. Focusing on insects, the PhD student will use data generated by imaging, DNA barcoding and metabarcoding to explore the structure of species assemblages. By generating a phylogenetic framework for these communities, and by extracting information on body size, the PhD student will investigate community structure in terms of species diversity, phylogenetic diversity and trait disparity. The use and development of bioinformatics tools able to handle large datasets, in particular for generating phylogenetic information, will be an important part of the project.

The successful candidate will be integrated in the LIFEPLAN group, an international network of some hundred researchers from the fields of community ecology, mathematical modeling, artificial intelligence and metabarcoding. At the Department of Ecology, the PhD student will join a research group with strong expertise in community ecology, ecological interaction networks, biogeography and insect phylogenetics.

Qualifications:
To qualify you need at least 240 higher education credits in biology or equivalent fields. Written and oral proficiency in English is required. To conduct the 4-year project, you must have a strong interest in community ecology, phylogenetics and/or biogeography. Proven competences in bioinformatics, database handling and statistical analyses are a major advantage. Candidates should demonstrate a high motivation for pursuing an academic career in ecology and evolution.  

The selection will be based on the candidates past performance, CV and on written recommendations (for top candidates only). The candidates must demonstrate their ability to collaborate but also to take initiatives and work independently.

Particular emphasis will be placed on your motivation letter, in which you should outline your research interests and expectations for the project, and describe what makes you a suitable candidate for pursuing a PhD program in general and this position in particular.

Place of work:      
Uppsala, Sweden.

Forms for funding or employment:
Fixed-time employment (4 years) full time (100 %).

Starting date:
By agreement.

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2022-03-04, use the button below.

Applications must be written in English and contain (i) a statement of scientific interests and motivation for applying to this position (max 8000 characters including spaces), (ii) Curriculum Vitae, (iii) contact information to at least two reference persons, and (iv) certified copies of previous university degrees. A person has basic eligibility for third cycle education if she or he has taken a second cycle qualification or has completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 higher education credits at second cycle education. Upper secondary school grades equivalent to English B/English 6 are a basic requirement.

Please observe that applicant/s chosen to participate in an interview shall hand in certified true copies of certificates, diplomas and transcripts from previous studies at an internationally recognized higher education institution (university or universitycollege) and transcripts in connection to the interview. If the applicant is a foreign citizen we require a certified copy of the page in your passport with your personal data and photography.

Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a top-class university with research, education and environmental analysis in the sciences for sustainable living. The main locations are Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but operations are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational locations throughout the country. We bring together people with different perspectives but with the common goal of creating the best conditions for a sustainable, vibrant and better world.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of more than SEK 3 billion. The university invests in attractive environments on its campus areas.

www.slu.se