Doctoral student in Biology

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:

Ecology and evolution of phenotypic plasticity in Trinidadian guppies.

The overall goal of the PhD project is to better understand how the environment affects genetic and phenotypic variation, and how these insights can be used to improve predictions of evolution.

Evolutionary change happens constantly all around us. This contemporary evolution can allow populations to adapt and persist, or contribute to their decline and extinction. Which of the two it will be is often unclear because current methods to predict microevolution work poorly in natural populations. Considering the global environmental crisis, this is particularly alarming. A key cause of the predictive inaccuracy is environmental variation.

This PhD project will investigate environmental effects on additive genetic (co)variances, narrow-sense heritabilities, and evolvabilities. Additionally, as resource availability is a crucial aspect of the environment in many species, it will evaluate to what extent including information on individual resource accrual can reduce environmental bias. The project will combine quantitative genetic experiments in a newly established, state-of-the-art fish research laboratory with analyses of long-term field data, using the well-known Trinidadian guppy system. The successful candidate will have a keen interest in evolutionary biology, quantitative genetics, or related fields. A curious mind, a sense of responsibility, and excellent organisational skills are strong additional merits for the position.

Note that, while there may be a possibility for conducting fieldwork in Trinidad, the project neither requires nor guarantees it.

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 evolutionary biology, ecology, or closely related area.

• Excellent oral and written proficiency in English.

• Experience in data processing, statistical analysis, and scripting (ideally) in R.

• Ability to work independently while knowing when to ask for help.

• Ability to work in an extremely structured way both in the laboratory and when managing and analysing huge datasets.

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

• Demonstrated ability to write a scientific text (e.g., published paper).

• Knowledge of methods in quantitative genetics.

• Practical experience in laboratory animal experiments and/or in large-scale experimental design and its execution in other organisms.

• Practical experience in image analysis, video analysis and/or microscopy.

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 for two references, and other documents you wish to be considered.