Doctoral scholarship holder in the field of ecological and functional morphology

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The Department of Biology in the Faculty of Sciences is looking for a full-time doctoral scholarship holder in the field of ecological and functional morphology

Position

• You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis on the ecological and functional significance of osteoderms in lizards. Osteoderms are bony elements present in the skin of disparate vertebrate species, and occasionally also in humans. Why they are expressed in some, and not other species, remains a mystery. This project will examine whether osteoderms are implicated in a South African lizard species. The species is exceptional because it exhibits strong intraspecific variation in osteoderm expression.
• Your study will include a considerable amount of field work (in South Africa), morphological and physiological measurements and In vivo x-ray microtomography. You will be able to work together with two other PhD students that focus on the macro-ecology and genetic architecture of osteoderm expression, respectively.
• You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for the Functional Morphology Lab.

Profile

• You hold a Master degree in Biology or a related field or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
• You can demonstrate excellent study results.
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision .
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies .
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• You are an independent worker willing to spend long days in the field (South Africa).

What we offer

• We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed once for another two-year period.
• The planned start date is 1 October 2021 or as soon as possible after that date.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• You will do most of your lab-work at Campus Drie Eiken in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here .

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 1 September 2021 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments: a motivation letter and your academic CV.
• The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to [email protected] . If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Raoul Van Damme, professor, at [email protected] .

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity  and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.