PhD student in Ecology and Evolution

The Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP) is located in the Arrhenius Laboratories, situated at the University Campus at Frescati. Presently around 100 people, including 35 PhD students and 15 postdocs, in 25 research groups work at DEEP.

More information about us, please visit: the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant sciences.

Project description

The Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences invites applications for a four-year PhD position in the framework of the project “Harnessing evolutionary transitions, machine learning, and genomics to decode pollen evolution and unravel sexual selection mechanisms shared across kingdoms” led by Prof. Tanja Slotte in close collaboration with co-investigators Prof. John Fitzpatrick, Prof. Catarina Rydin, and Dr. Allison Hsiang at Stockholm University.

This project will investigate the evolutionary drivers and genomic consequences of pollen evolution in response to shifts in pollination mode in flowering plants. The thesis work will focus on identifying genomic signatures of selection on pollen in relation to evolutionary transitions in pollination mode. The work will involve comparative genomic analyses in a phylogenetic framework, as well as population genomic and transcriptomic analyses in suitable plant systems. The project is funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

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 applicants must have completed at least 60 higher education credits in the second cycle, of which 15 credits must be from a course in one of the areas Ecology or Evolution, and 30 credits from a project in one of the areas Ecology or Evolution. Applicants may also have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

Selection

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 of theory and applications in a relevant field of research, such as evolutionary genetics/genomics, population genetics, phylogenomics, and related subjects
• documented experience in bioinformatics or other computational analyses
• capacity for analytical and creative thinking
• initiative
• independence
• ability to collaborate
• excellent written and oral proficiency in English.

Documented experience in molecular genetic lab work or plant experiments is a merit but not required. Documented training in botany is a merit but not required. Special emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.

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 the principal investigator for this project, Professor Tanja Slotte, tanja.slotte@su.se, or the subject representative Professor Peter Hambäck, peter.hamback@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.