Doctoral student in Biology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Ecology and evolution of male and female genes and genomes

Project description and work duties.
Sexual and genetic conflicts occur on many levels, yet their ecological and evolutionary connections and consequences are still partly poorly understood. This PhD project aims to understand how sex chromosomes and sex-determining genes are shaped by selection and drift, and how they in turn affect the populations in which they occur. The project will be based partly on the sex chromosome system of Sylvioidea passerines, partly on the sex determination system of bumblebees. The research will include studies of (i) the effect of selection and drift on diverging sex chromosomes in different demographic situations in larks, (ii) the relationship between sexual dimorphism and sex chromosome divergence in Sylvioidea birds, and (iii) the demographic consequences of complementary sex determination in bumblebees. The results will help understand processes that shape and are affected by sexual and genomic conflicts.

Requirment profile
We are looking for a person with high interest in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and who has a Degree in Master of Science in Biology or equivalent education in Evolutionary Biology or Molecular Ecology.
Excellent spoken and written English, and high motivation and sincere interest in this particular project, is a requirement.
Previous experience and strong interest in ecological field work, molecular techniques, and bioinformatics and demographic modelling, are strongly meritorious.

Admission requirements
A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Assessment criteria
Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.

2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.

3. Written and oral communication skills

4. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Terms of employment
Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§. Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at Lund University consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 4 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Type of employment
Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.