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.
1B. Ph.D. student position in Marine Ecology
Ref. Nr. U 2011/694
Research and education at the Department of Marine Ecology is conducted in Gothenburg and at the two marine research stations: Tjärnö and Kristineberg. The work at the department covers a broad selection such as marine systems ecology, marine chemical ecology and marine evolution and genomics.
The PhD candidate will be based at the Department of Marine Ecology in Göteborg, but should be prepared for yearly 2-3 months of field and/or laboratory work at Department of Microbiology, College of Fisheries, Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), in Mangalore, India.
Third cycle education
This education leads to a Ph.D. in Natural Sciences with a specialization in Biology. 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. The student will be employed at the Department of Marine Ecology including full benefits.
4/16'
Qualifications
The applicant must have an exam at undergraduate level within biology with at least 240 hp, of which 60 hp at advanced level within marine ecology (or equivalent).
Criteria
The applicant should have strong theoretical and practical background in ecology, and an expressed interest to work with multidisciplinary research questions related to pelagic ecology and management of the marine environment. Candidates with documented experience of field studies and methods relevant for the described project will be prioritized. Ability and interest to acquire new knowledge with regards to experimental techniques, theory, modelling, statistics and experimental design is also important. The successful candidate will also have a documented ability to work independently and collaborate in larger research groups. Good communication skills (written and spoken) in English are strong merits.
Application documents
- 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 from two references that are familiar with the applicant’s qualifications.
- 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 main supervisor, Anna Godhe:
e-mail: anna.godhe@marecol.gu.se
For general questions regarding the department or Ph.D. positions, please contact the Head of the department, Per Åberg:
Phone: +46 (0)31-786 2707, E-mail: per.aberg@marecol.gu.se
Trade union representatives:
SACO Martin Björkman, 031-786 3608
SEKO Lennart Olsson, 031- 786 1173
OFR-S Stefan Schedin, 031-786 1167