PhD student in Lichen 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.

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

SciLifeLab is a national center for molecular biosciences with focus on health and environmental research. The center combines frontline technical expertise with advanced knowledge of translational medicine and molecular bioscience. SciLifeLab is a national resource hosted by Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Uppsala University. In Stockholm, the SciLifeLab Campus Solna serves as an extra shared campus of Stockholm Trio (KI, KTH, SU).

 For more information, please visit: SciLifeLab

Project description

A PhD position is available at the laboratory of Gulnara Tagirdzhanova. The project focuses on the biology of lichen symbiosis. Lichens, the archetypal fungal-algal symbiosis, present a major exception to our understanding of individuality. Lichen bodies, while looking like a single organism, consist of multiple unrelated lineages of microbes: fungi, unicellular algae, and bacteria. In isolation, these can be considered microorganisms. Within a lichen, however, the symbionts coordinate their growth, leading to a consistent body plan with multiple tissue types and conserved structures. The mechanisms behind these microbe-microbe interactions remain largely unknown.

The goal of the project is to elucidate interaction between the organisms that constitute a lichen thallus. The project will rely on bioinformatics, microscopy, and molecular biology techniques. Research will be carried out in SciLifeLab Campus Solna and DEEP.

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 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, Evolution or Plant Physiology, and 30 credits from a project in one of these areas. 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 in one or several of the relevant field of research, such as lichen biology, fungal biology, algal biology, biology of symbiosis, molecular ecology, and related subjects
• documented experience with one or several of the following methods: bioinformatics, microscopy, working with fungal/algal/bacterial cultures, molecular biology techniques
• capacity for analytical and creative thinking
• initiative
• independence
• ability to collaborate
• written and oral proficiency in 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 the principal investigator for this project, Gulnara Tagirdzhanova, gulnara.tagirdzhanova@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.