PhD Candidate in Eco(toxico)logical Modelling Lab-Field Extrapolation (DC3)

Do you have a recent master’s degree in biology or environmental science and want to start your academic career off right? Then help us bridge the gap between toxicity tests in the lab and ecologically relevant endpoints in the field as a PhD candidate. Join an interdisciplinary and intersectoral research and training programme within a network of several European universities and research institutes.

The aim of the EU Marie Curie QTOX project (seven beneficiaries, ten PhD positions) is to improve chemical risk assessment by bridging the gap between toxicity tests in the lab and ecologically relevant endpoints in the field. In Work Package 5, three PhD positions will relate effects on individuals to impact on populations and communities. The present vacancy (DC3) addresses lab-field extrapolation.

In DC3 you will mechanistically relate lab data to field indicators of biodiversity and bioproductivity widely used in research and management, including mean species abundance, species richness, transfer efficiency and ecological quality classes. Based on previous studies, you will extend population theory to community models. For parameterisation, data will be obtained from databases and the literature. For validation, you will use field and semi-field observations from past studies as well experiments carried out by other PhDs. The project will yield a set of theoretically and empirically underpinned relationships to be used both for fundamental understanding as well as practical risk assessment.

As a PhD candidate you will attend courses, particularly Summer and Winter Schools of ITN-QTOX, improving your research and assessment skills. You will also supervise students and assist in courses at the BSc/MSc level. Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your working time.