PhD student in Marine Biology

Ref. No. SU FV-0428-23

at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences . Closing date: 20 March 2023.

Research and education at Stockholm University at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP) is located in the Arrhenius Laboratories, situated at the University Campus at Frescati. Research carried spans across a broad range of biology subject areas including Ecology and Evolution, Ecotoxicology, Marine Biology, Plant Physiology and Plant Systematics. Presently around 110 people are working at DEEP using state-of-the art methodologies in an international research environment characterized by world-recognized researchers and a high level of professionalism.

Project description
The Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences invites applications for a four-year PhD position part of the project: “What are the environmental risks associated with seabed mining for rare earth elements in the Baltic Sea? Quantifying impacts on benthic biodiversity and ecosystem processes”.  

The transition to a low carbon economy is increasing global demand for rare Earth elements (REE), driven by the growth of infrastructure necessary for renewable energy and electrification of the transport sector. How to sustainably meet this increased demand of REE is a vital challenge for societies around the world. Seabed mining (SBM), previously not economically viable, is now considered a feasible way to meet this demand of REE. There are now multiple initiatives exploring the potential of SBM, one of them in advanced stage in the Baltic Sea. It is thus urgent to understand the environmental risks associated with SBM before the projected expansion of this industry.

There is now focus on the impacts of SBM activities in the deep sea on large invertebrates, but major knowledge gaps exist on the impacts to coastal ecosystems particularly regarding microbial benthic communities and the ecosystem processes they drive. The proposed project will assess the impacts of SBM on all benthic communities (microbes, protist, meio-and macrofauna) and ecosystem processes mediating benthic carbon and nitrogen cycling in an area currently being considered for exploration in the Baltic. This unique empirical data will then be modelled to quantify the environmental risks of SBM in the Baltic under different exploration scenarios using an probabilistic methods. The proposed results will provide managers with tools to support evidence-based regulation of SBM that ensures its sustainability.

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 Marine Biology 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 Marine Biology, and 30 credits from a project in Marine Biology. 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 criteria used in the selection for admittance to research training in Marine Biology are knowledge of theory and applications in the research field, knowledge with relevance for the research project; ability to communicate orally and in writing, knowledge of English, creativity, analytic competence, initiative, independence and collaboration ability. Previous  experience  of field sampling, molecular ecology, metabarcoding, high throughput sequencing and bioinformatic pipelines for metabarcoding would be considered an advantage.

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 Francisco Nascimento, telephone, [email protected] . Further information about the position can be obtained from the Subject Representative Jon Norberg, [email protected] .

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, [email protected], Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), 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 job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline. We recommend that you hand in your application, including necessary documents, in English.

Please include the following information with your application

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

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=20025&rmlang=UK