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

Subject description

Biology is the broad subject about all living things. It encompasses everything from processes at the molecular and cellular level to global processes at ecosystem level. The subject is divided into a range of sub-disciplines and specialisations. The PhD programme at the Department of Biology includes many of these specialisations, from molecular biology to applied ecology, from viruses and individual cells to evolutionary biology and global biodiversity. Taking on research studies at the Department of Biology generally means focusing on a delimited part of the research area of biology and may include field studies, experiments, theoretical studies, or a combination of these.

Work duties

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties, up to 20%.

Project description: The chemistry of fear -Indirect effects of predation in aquatic ecosystems

The overall goal of the PhD project is to gain new insights to the mechanisms and consequences of sensing and signaling in predator-prey interactions in aquatic foodwebs.  

Prey organisms sense predators by chemical cues and respond by launching defensive traits such as vertical migration, bioluminescence, or toxin production, to avoid predation. The responses contribute to large scale phenomena such as harmful algal bloom formation and carbon sequestration. In the research group “Signals in the Sea”  we isolate the chemical alarm-cues, determine their structure, and explore their mechanism of action from cellular to ecosystem level. You will use a combination of classical biological methods and state of the art techniques from chemistry and physics (LC-MS and GC-MS, AI driven microscopy, image-, and motion-analysis) to explore signaling systems and their consequences in aquatic ecology. The project typically involves a combination of field-, lab-, and computer based work. The successful candidate will be a devoted and curious explorer with a background in biology, physics, chemistry, or related fields and keen to interact with the vibrant multidisciplinary environment of the biology department at Lund University. Experience in plankton ecology, field work, programming, optics, academic writing, and/or image analysis are all meriting for the position. 

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.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Biology if he or she has passed an independent project (for example a degree project) of at least 30 credits in a relevant subject and have good oral and written proficiency in English.

Additional requirements: 

• A MSc in biology, chemistry, physics, or related field.
• Excellent oral and written proficiency in English.
• Experience in data processing, statistical computing, and scripting (R, Python, matlab or similar).
• Demonstrated ability for proactive and independent work.

In addition to the mandatory requirements, documented experience in the following areas will be considered as strong merits:

• Experience from lab and/or field work in plankton ecology.
• Practical experience in video and/or image analysis.
• Experience from analytical chemistry.
• Experience in optics and/or deep learning.

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: 

• Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
• An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
• Written and oral communication skills
• Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, for example professional experience.

Consideration will also be given to strong collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programe. 

Terms of employment
Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 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 postgraduate education programme 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, contact information to two references and other documents you wish to be considered.