Researcher in bee morphology

Published: 2022-11-17

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a long-term difference in society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has over 54,000 students, more than 7,500 employees and a turnover of around SEK 8 billion.

A position as a researcher in bee morphology and behaviour is available at the Department of Ecology and Genetics, Plant Ecology and Evolution Program.

The Department of Ecology and Genetics is an international environment with staff and students from all over the world. Our research spans from evolutionary ecology and genetics to studies of ecosystems. For more information, see www.ieg.uu.se .

At the plant ecology and evolution program we treat a broad range of research topics including evolutionary ecology, population and community ecology, population genetics, genomics, and conservation biology.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University

Project description
This researcher position forms part of the Human Frontier Science Program project “Bridging robotics and buzz pollination: Reconstructing a bee’s buzz through microrobotics” (2022-2025). It represents a collaboration between the research groups of Dr. Mario Vallejo-Marin (Uppsala University, Sweden) and Dr. Noah Jafferis (University of Massachussetts, Lowe, U.S.A.). Our project’s main goal is to develop new micro-robotic approaches combined with experiments in laboratory and field settings to study the vibrations produced by diverse bee species and their effect on pollen release. We will address the central question of how diversity of bee vibrations translates to functional variation in pollen release of buzz-pollinated flowers.

Duties
The researcher, based at Uppsala, will work on growing plants in the greenhouse, measuring bee vibrations in both field and laboratory settings, describing morphological characteristics of bees, performing taxonomic identification of bees, and conducting behavioural observations of bee interactions with flowers.

Qualifications required
To qualify for an employment as a researcher you must have a PhD degree or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in a relevant field (e.g., evolutionary biology, biology, botany, entomology). The PhD degree must have been obtained no more than three years prior to the application deadline. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc. Ability to work with plants and bees, to manipulate and conduct experiments with captive bees, to taxonomically identify wild bees, and experience with statistical analyses (e.g., R) are required. We attach great importance to personal qualities such as independence, initiative, flexibility, ability to cooperate, creativity, and problem-solving analytical skills.  Candidates must be able to express themselves fully in spoken as well as written English.

Qualifications desired
Expertise in one or more fields including evolutionary biology, botany, ecology, and entomology are highly desirable. Expertise with working with bees, particularly handling and identifying bees in field and lab settings is also desirable.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position for 7 months. Scope of employment 100%. Starting date 2023-01-16, or as agreed.Placement Uppsala.

For further information about the position please contact: Associate Professor Mario Vallejo-Marin, mario.vallejo-marin@ebc.uu.se.

Application
The application should include 1) a letter of intent describing yourself, your research interests and motivation of why you want to work as a researcher in the advertised project, 2) a short description of what specific expertise or skills you can bring to the project, 3) a CV, 4) name and contact information to at least two reference persons (e-mail address). The application should be written in English.

You are welcome to submit your application no later than November 28, 2022. UFV-PA2022/4290.

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Submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Placement: Department of Ecology and Genetics

Type of employment: Full time , Temporary position longer than 6 months

Pay: Individual salary

Number of positions: 1

Working hours: 100

Town: Uppsala

County: Uppsala län

Country: Sweden

Union representative: Seko Universitetsklubben seko@uadm.uu.se
ST/TCO tco@fackorg.uu.se
Saco-rådet saco@uadm.uu.se

Number of reference: UFV-PA 2022/4290

Last application date: 2022-11-28