PhD student in Evolutionary Genomics with Yeast

The Department of Zoology of Stockholm University includes ca. 80 employees, including researchers, PhD students, and administrative staff. Research and education at the department occurs in an international environment. Outstanding and high impact research is conducted in a variety of fields, including evolutionary biology, molecular and population genetics, genomics, conservation, and behaviour.
More information about us, please visit: Department of Zoology.

Project description

Selected candidate will use the powerful microbial model system yeast (Saccharomyces), experimental evolution, and cutting-edge genomic tools to study evolutionary processes. Topics include but are not limited to 1) parallel evolution of climate adaptation in yeast from Europe and South America, 2) the genetic architecture of thermal traits, and 3) the evolution of pathogenicity as a by-product of thermotolerance.

Training will be provided in: experimental evolution, molecular genetics, whole genome sequencing, statistics, bioinformatics, yeast cultivation, and microbiology. The work will mostly be lab-based but may include some fieldwork. There is flexibility within the project for the student to develop their own interests, with guidance and support from the supervisor and the department. The working language of the group is English.

Qualification requirements

In order to be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must have the general and specific entry requirements. The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

You meet general entry requirements if you have completed a second-cycle degree, or completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

For specific entry requirements to be admitted to doctoral level education in zoology, the applicant must have completed courses of at least 120 credits in biology, or equivalent, and have completed and been approved in an independent project in biology, or equivalent, of at least 30 credits, at advanced level.

Selection

We are looking for candidates with a strong interest in evolutionary biology, ideally with experience in experimental evolution and molecular/population/quantitative genetics. Prior training in Saccharomyces yeast cultivation, statistics, and programming (e.g. R, Python) is a plus.

The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The following criteria will be used to assess this capacity:

• documented knowledge in a relevant field of research
• capacity for analytical and creative thinking
• initiative
• independence
• ability to collaborate
• written and oral proficiency in both Swedish and English.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University.

About the employment

We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education, but the employment may include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new employment as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact

For more information, please contact Rike Stelkens, phone: +46 8 16 42 23, rike.stelkens@zoologi.su.se.

Application

Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.