PhD student in Ecology

The vision of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences is to understand, explain and improve the world and the society we live in from a health and life-science perspective. Work at the faculty is guided by Linnaeus University's four core values: innovation, curiosity, proximity and benefit.

The Department of Biology and Environmental Science is part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. The research activities within this multidisciplinary department include the areas of aquatic ecology, cell and organism biology, evolutionary biology, microbiology, environmental science and environmental engineering as well as zoonotic ecology.

 

Job description

The large diversity in pelagic microbial communities supports the idea that biological interactions, rather than resource competition, are the primary forces driving diversification in plankton systems. We are seeking a PhD candidate for a project examining the interactions between phytoplankton and bacterial communities in the Baltic Sea, along a south-north gradient. This study is part of a larger multidisciplinary project that seeks to understand diversity, ecology and physiology of microbial plankton communities within a climate change perspective The work will include a combination of laboratory experiments and field surveys, molecular genetic tools and ecological modelling will be used to evaluate hypotheses and test predictions.

The research will be conducted in collaboration with other scientists within the framework of the Strong Research Environment ECOCHANGE and the Center of excellence within Linnaeus University that comprises expertise in ecology, evolution, and microbiology.

According to the Higher Education Ordinance a person appointed to a doctoral studentship should primarily devote himself/herself to his/her own studies. An appointee may, however, work to a limited extent with education, research, artistic development, and administration. However, before a doctoral degree has been awarded, duties of this kind may not comprise more than 20% of a full-time post.

Entry requirements

A person fulfils the general entry requirements if he/she


• has been awarded a degree on second-cycle level
• has completed the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits, of which 60 credits on second-cycle level, or
• in other way, in Sweden or abroad, has acquired principally equivalent knowledge.

The Higher Education Ordinance also states a transitional regulation for qualification for admission to third-cycle level, valid until 2015.

Requirements – Transitional regulation

A person who fulfils the conditions for general requirements (bachelor degree and 60 "old" credits in the subject) for admission to third-cycle education prior to July 1, 2007, should also henceforth be considered qualified for admission to education at third-cycle level. This should be the case until 2015.

Relative importance of assessment criteria

1. Experience of plankton/microbial ecology research

2. Experience of genetics and molecular biology techniques

3. Overall suitability of the applicant to the research groups 

Placement location

Kalmar 

For more information, please contact

Professor Catherine Legrand (Catherine.legrand@lnu.se) +46(0)-480-447309; Dr. Elin Lindehoff (elin.lindehoff@lnu.se),+46-48044

Professor Jarone Pinhassi +46(0)480-44 73 11, (jarone.pinhassi@lnu.se); Head of Department Per-Eric Betzholtz (per-eric.betzholtz@LNU.SE), +46-(0)480-446249; or Personnel Officer Ulrika Petersson (ulrika .petersson@lnu.se), +46-(0)480-446996. 

Union representatives may be contacted via the university switchboard at +46-772-288000. 

The application (in English) should contain a CV (with telephone and e-mail), documentation of exams and grades, a description of personal motivation and experiences relevant to the research project and any other documentation that the applicant would like to present. The candidates should also provide contact details (including telephone number and e-mail address) of two reference persons. Candidates with background in research in evolutionary ecology are encouraged to apply. Experience of working in the field and familiarity with molecular genetics techniques and bioinformatics is desired. English skills, both verbal and in writing, is required. Applications should arrive no later than July 31, 2015. Mark your application with reference number PA 2015/290-2.2.1.

 


Please apply by clicking on the "Apply" button at the bottom of the ad. Applicants are requested to the application resolving CV, cover letter , a copy of a relevant essay , grades and certificates and other relevant documents. The applicant also requested to submit with their application a proposed research plan within the current area of research. All documents must be attached to digital in the application. The application and other documents shall be marked with the reference number. All documents cited must be received by the University no later than 24.00 on the closing day.