PhD student in Ecology and Evolution

Ref. No. SU FV-0921-24

at the Department of Ecology, Environment, and Plant Sciences . Closing date: 23 April 2024.

Stockholm University is a leading European university in Sweden’s dynamic capital city. The University has more than 33,000 students, 1,600 doctoral students and 5,500 staff members active within the natural sciences and humanities. Research and education at 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, ecotoxicology, marine biology, plant physiology, systematics, and environmental and climate science.

Presently around 100 people, including 35 PhD students and 10 postdocs, in 25 research groups work at DEEP. The research environment is characterized by its international focus and collaborative and stimulating working environment. The senior staff are both active researchers and teachers. They teach on many different courses that are part of biology education at both Bachelors and Masters level

Project description
The Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences invites applications for a four-year PhD position part of the project “Unlocking genetic variation for climate adaptation of crops” in Prof. Tanja Slotte’s research group.

There is currently a pressing need to adapt crops to future climates by breeding more resilient varieties, and crop wild relatives are a promising yet underutilized source of genetic variation for breeding. In this project, we will test whether population genetic methods that identify genetic variants associated with environmental variation can efficiently identify adaptive genetic variation for crop improvement in collections of crop wild relatives. The project will focus on wild relatives of wheat and flax, which are promising sources of genetic variation for drought tolerance. The results are broadly important for more efficient utilization of crop wild relative collections to unlock wild genetic variation for food security and fibre production in a changing climate. The project is funded by Formas and will include collaborations with researchers at the Swedish Agricultural University (Uppsala and Alnarp, Sweden), Durham University (United Kingdom), and University of Granada (Spain).

Qualification requirements
In order to meet the general entry requirements, the applicant must have completed a second-cycle degree, 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.

In order to meet the specific entry requirements, the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of Ecology and Evolution stipulates, that 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 or Evolution, and 30 credits from a project in one of the areas Ecology or Evolution. Applicants may also have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

Selection
The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on the capacity to benefit from the training. The criteria used in the selection for admittance to research training in Ecology and Evolution are knowledge of theory and applications in the research field, ability to communicate orally and in writing, knowledge of English, creativity, analytic competence, initiative, independence and collaboration ability.

Documented training and interest in Population Genetics and Plant Genetics or related subjects is a merit for this position. Prior experience of bioinformatic analyses or other computational work is desired but not required. Experience of molecular genetics lab work and/or experimental work with plants is beneficial but not required. Special emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University are available at: www.su.se/rules and regulations .

Terms of employment 
Only a person who will be or has already been admitted to a third-cycle programme may be appointed to a doctoral studentship.

The term of the initial contract may not exceed one year. The employment may be extended for a maximum of two years at a time. However, the total period of employment may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study.

Doctoral students should primarily devote themselves to their own education, but may engage in teaching, research, and administration corresponding to a maximum of 20 % of a full-time position.

Please note that admission decisions cannot be appealed.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
For more information, please contact project leader and Subject Representative Professor Tanja Slotte, [email protected].

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, [email protected] , Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, [email protected] , [email protected]  (SEKO), and PhD student representative, [email protected] .

Application
Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter (2-3 pages), containing
  • Your expectations from, and intentions with the education
  • Why you are interested in the specific project
  • What makes you suitable for the specific project
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of degree projects/theses
• Degree certificates and grades confirming that you meet the general and specific entry requirements (no more than 6 files)
• Degree projects/theses (no more than 6 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position .

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

URL to this page
https://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs/phd-student-positions-1.507588?rmpage=job&rmjob=23257&rmlang=UK