PhD student in Zoology

The Department of Zoology is one of the departments at the Faculty of Science with about 50 employees and 40 students. The main research areas are Ecology, Ethology, Functional Morphology, Systematics and Evolution, and Population Genetics. The Centre for Palaeogenetics is a research centre jointly funded by Stockholm University and the Swedish Museum of Natural History.
More information about us, please visit: the Department of Zoology.

Project description

The Department of Zoology invites applications for a four-year PhD position based at the Centre for Palaeogenetics in Stockholm. The project will investigate host genetic responses to catastrophic pandemic outbreaks in geographically restricted settings, such as islands. The study material will comprise both human and wild animal remains, and analyses will employ state-of-the-art palaeogenomic approaches, with a primary focus on ancient DNA from historic specimens. The project will focus on DNA from both bacteria, viruses and the host organisms, in order to investigate co-evolution between pathogen and host. The PhD project is fully funded through grants from the Swedish Research Council and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The programme aims to investigate evolutionary processes, including diverse host responses to newly emerging virulent microbes and their long-term consequences for the host and pathogen gene pools. The PhD student will join the research groups led by Anders Götherström and Love Dalén at the Centre for Palaeogenetics (see www.palaeogenetics.com) located on the Stockholm University campus.

Qualification requirements

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

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.

Specific entry requirements: In order to meet the specific entry requirements, the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of zoology stipulates that applicants must have completed at least 120 higher education credits in biology, or a similar subject, and at least 30 credits from a degree project within palaeogenomics, population genetics, molecular biology, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, or similar.

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:

the candidates’ documented knowledge in a relevant field of research
written and oral proficiency in English
the capacity for analytical thinking and creativity
proficiency to collaborate
ability to take initiative
the capacity for independence.

The assessment will be based on previous experience and grades, the quality of the degree project, references, relevant experience, interviews, and the candidate’s written motivation for seeking the position. In addition, experience in population genetics, metagenomics, bioinformatics and laborative DNA analysis are important qualifications.

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 Professor Anders Götherström, anders.gotherstrom@arklab.su.se, or Professor Love Dalén, love.dalen@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.