PhD student in Marine Biology

The Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP) is located in the Arrhenius Laboratories, situated at the University Campus at Frescati. Research spans a broad range of biological subject areas including ecology and evolution, marine biology, plant physiology, systematics, and environmental and climate science.

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.

Subject area

The Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences invites applications for a fully funded four-year PhD position called “Bioturbation as a driver of ecological interactions involved in methane and nitrous oxide cycling and implications to coastal carbon sinks”. This VR funded project seeks to quantify how bioturbation—the activity of burrowing animals in sediments—drives the dynamics of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in coastal ecosystems, and its implications for the capacity of benthic habitats to sequester carbon (C). 

Our work will explore bioturbation's role in promoting CH4 ebullition and its escape from microbial filters, an important mechanism explaining why costal ecosystems are hotspots for marine CH4 and N2O emissions. 

Additionally the project will delve into the effects of bioturbation on microbial processes that control CH4 and N2O cycling in marine sediments employing mesocosm experiments to quantify the interactions between fauna and microbes. We plan also to study virus-bacteria interactions' influence on CH4 and N2O dynamics, and how they are driven by bioturbation. This work will allow us to assess bioturbation's broader effects on GHG dynamics and the efficacy of these ecosystems in C sequestration. 

By integrating ecological, biogeochemical, and molecular expertise in the supervising team, the project aims to provide novel insights into the role of bioturbation in coastal CH4 and N2O dynamics and how it mediates how benthic ecosystem sequester C. It will to refine our understanding of coastal ecosystems' role in global C cycling and inform strategies for enhancing the resilience and of coastal habitats.

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, the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of Marine Biology stipulates, that applicants must have completed at least 60 higher education credits in the second cycle, of which 15 credits must be from a course in Marine Biology, and 30 credits from a project in Marine Biology or another relevant area for the project.

Applicants may also have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere. 

Selection

The criteria used in the selection for admittance to research training in Marine Biology are good knowledge of theory and applications in the research field, knowledge with relevance for the research project; strong ability to communicate orally and in writing, excellent knowledge of English, creativity, analytic competence, initiative, independence and collaboration ability.

Specific documented experiences/skills that are considered meriting include previous experience of field sampling, biogeochemistry or molecular ecology methods and good knowledge of statistical methods.

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 project leader Dr Francisco Nascimento, francisco.nascimento@su.se. Further information about the position can be obtained from the subject representative, Professor Clare Bradshaw, clare.bradshaw@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.