University of Gothenburg announces ten research student positions linked to the multidisciplinary
Graduate school in marine environmental research
This research school is run by Gothenburg Centre for Marine Research (under the Centre for Environment and Sustainability). The research student positions are part of five multidisciplinary projects each including two research students from different faculties (disciplines). The research within all projects aims to support a sustainable use and management of marine resources.
The graduate school will recruit in total 14 research students (7 pairs) during the period June 2011-January 2012, and a coordinator of the school will be appointed. Each research student will be affiliated to a "home department" (the department of the supervisor) and be examined in accordance with the rules of the department. Research students and their supervisors of the graduate school are expected to take part of seminars, workshops and similar activities arranged by the school. The two students and the two (or more) supervisors within a project should collaborate to the extent that at least one multidisciplinary (co-authored) manuscript or conference paper is provided.
Below follows a detailed description of the five projects, including the individual research student positions hereby announced.
Applications
Each position should be applied for with a separate set of application documents. All applications should be sent electronically to Registrator at University of Gothenburg, anstallning@gu.se. The application should be a single pdf with appendices as separate additional pdfs. (If an applicant wants to be considered for more than one position in marine ecology, separate applications should be sent for each position.)
It is important to indicate the reference number of the announcement and which of the ten positions is applied for in the title of the mail.
Deadline for the application is Monday, March 5th 2012. 2/16
PROJECT 1: The effects of climate induced changes in the Arabian Sea on marine and coastal socio-ecological systems in India
Phytoplankton forms the basis of the marine food web, is responsible for 40% of the global CO2 fixation, and is important in the biogeochemical cycling of minerals. Slight changes of the species structure will influence the carbon sink, CO2 fixation properties, fish catches and support for marine pathogens, such as Vibrio cholerae. Globally, harmful algal blooms and marine pathogens jeopardize the health and financial income for millions of people. These indiscriminately kill cultured and wild fishes and invertebrates, and accumulate in bivalves, which in the tropics are consumed mainly in poor coastal communities.
The overarching aim of this interdisciplinary project is to contribute to the global challenge of climate change in respect of environmental and socio-economic impact. The project aims to facilitate the adaptation to on-going climate change by foreseeing possible changes in crucial components of the marine food web, and by estimating the human vulnerability and the need for institutional responses.
This will be achieved through collaboration between two PhD students, one in Human Ecology and one in Marine Ecology, together with the supervisors. The geographical area of the study is coastal Arabian Sea, and therefore collaborating Indian scientists are also part of the research team.
The project consists of both disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies, using a combination of experimental and model studies with the objectives to: 1. Define the long-term effects of the hydrographic changes on the composition of the phytoplankton community. 2. Experimentally test how the pelagic community (phytoplankton and associated pathogenic bacteria) will respond to anticipated hydrographic changes. 3. Investigate the expansion of model species of harmful algae in theoretical models, and in manipulated single species experiment in which we follow the response on a transcriptional and physiologic level. 4. Identify the most important provisioning ecosystem services that are likely to be negatively affected by an expansion of harmful algal blooms in the Arabian Sea. 5. Assess the vulnerability of the users of such ecosystem services along the south-west coast of India. 6. Analyze the need for institutional response in India to the socio-economic risks posed by an expansion of harmful algal blooms in the Arabian Sea.
1A. Ph.D. student position in Human Ecology
Ref. Nr. U 2011/693
Human Ecology is part of the Department for Global Studies. This department offers a rich multidisciplinary research environment including a variety of social science disciplines among which new research cooperation on sustainable development now are developing. Currently the department hosts a number of research projects with relevance for the announced position, including an EU project on management and development of coastal areas (SECOA: Solutions for Environmental Contrasts in Coastal Areas).
Third cycle education
The education is conducted according to the general curriculum for doctoral studies in Human Ecology (http://www.samfak.gu.se/digitalAssets/969/969068_071025_Humanekologi.pdf) and leads to a PhD in Human Ecology. It comprises four years of full time study at the post graduate level. The time period can be extended to up to five years in total through teaching and/or other departmental duties.
Qualifications
The applicant must have an exam at undergraduate level with at least 240 hp, of which 60 hp at advanced level. 90 hp, including a degree project, must be in human ecology (or equivalent).
3/16
Criteria
The successful applicant should have a strong background in environmental social science and show interest in multidisciplinary research collaboration. Documented earlier experience of fieldwork and methods relevant for the project is qualifying, as is an ability and interest to acquire new knowledge with regards to theory and methodology relevant for studies of socio-ecological systems. Documented earlier experiences from collaborative work, as well as good communication skills in English are also qualifying.
Application documents
- Completed application form (see www.globalstudies.gu.se)
- An attested list of qualifications (CV).
- Copy of examination certificates.
- Transcript of courses with grades.
- Copy of master thesis (or equivalent), and if relevant other scientific publications.
- A reference letter and contact information for references that are familiar with
- Documentation of English proficiency.
- A short cover letter (1-2 A4 page, written in English) concerning the applicant’s motivation for the research and ambitions and approach towards PhD studies. Here the applicant should motivate why he/she should be selected for the position.
For more information regarding the project please contact the assistant supervisor, Per Knutsson:
Phone: +46 (0)31 7864214, e-mail: per.knutsson@globalstudies.gu.se
For general questions regarding the department or Ph.D. positions, please contact the Head of the department, Stina Sundling Wingfors:
Phone: +46 (0)31-786 1424, E-mail: stina.s.wingfors@globalstudies.gu.se
Trade union representatives:
SACO: Pascale Evheden 031-7861078
SEKO Lennart Olsson 031-7861173
OFR-S Stefan Schödin 031-7861167