Postdoctoral fellow in Environmental Science - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The postdoctoral position is funded by BECC (Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate), an interdisciplinary strategic research area based on collaboration between more than 250 researchers at the universities of Lund and Gothenburg. BECC develops research that contributes to the visualization and generation of knowledge to predict and manage the combined effect of climate change and land use on biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services. BECC's strength is its existing and successful research leaders from many different disciplines such as biology, political science, geology, mathematics, physical geography and economics that together develop BECC. The Center for Environmental and Climate Research, CEC, hosts BECC. CEC is both a physical and a virtual center at Lund University. CEC conducts research, education and communication about environmental science and climate research.

How will seasonal clocks in wild and agricultural plants adapt to climate change?

Shifts in the seasonal timing of flowering is a commonly observed effect of climate change. Flowering time is primarily controlled by temperature and day length and, as a result of evolution, plant responses to these cues are often genetically adapted to the local climate. Will future climates render such evolved controls suboptimal and if so, what will evolution replace them with? As part of an ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration, the postdoc will develop and test ecological and genetically informed life-history theory to understand how plants should adapt their flowering time strategies to climatic changes. The project focuses on annual plants which, due to their short generation times, are particularly likely to exhibit rapid evolutionary responses to environmental change. Annual plants furthermore include important crops, invasive weeds and pollen-allergy causing plants. The theoretical work will be related to data from barley growth experiments at different latitudes across Europe and to data on plant phenology from the Swedish Phenology Network. By improving our understanding of flowering time adaptations in annual plants the results of this project may find applications in for example plant breeding to address food security and in predicting and managing invasive species in a changing climate.

Work Duties
The main duties involved in a post-doctoral posistion is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position shall include the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning.

• development and analysis of eco-evolutionary plant life history models using mathematical tools and computer simulations
• model validation based on statistical analyses of plant phenology and growth data.
• simulation of plant performance in future climate change scenarios.   

Qualifications and requirements
Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position, completed no more than three years before the last date for applications. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

• applicants should have completed a PhD in ecology, mathematics, environmental sciences or similar.
• keen interest in general evolutionary ecology
• solid background in quantitative or theoretical ecology
• excellent programming skills
• ability to work both independently and in teams with other researchers.
• excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.

Merits

• publications in internationally recognized scientific journals
• experience in plant ecology, plant genetics and eco-evolutionary modelling.

Assessment criteria and other qualifications
This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Teaching skills.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment
This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of a maximum of 2 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S, OFR/S and SEKO, dated 4 September 2008.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and be compiled into a PDF-file containing:

• résumé/CV, including a list of publications
• a general description of past research and future research interests (no more than three pages)
• contact information of at least two references
• copy of the doctoral degree certificate, and other certificates/grades that you wish to be considered.