Università degli Studi di Torino DIPARTIMENTO di SCIENZE DELLA VITA E BIOLOGIA DEI SISTEMI PhD Opportunity in Alpine Ornithology at the University of Turin Mountain environments tend to be hotspots of biodiversity and endemism, yet high altitude habitats are facing a number of severe pressures which threaten the integrity of the alpine ecosystem, such as climate change, changes in management of livestock and increasing human disturbance. We are seeking a PhD student to assess the link between vegetation structure and bird distributions in the transition zone between the forest and open grassland at c. 2200m in the Italian Alps. This area has a high biodiversity and structural complexity, but it has been little studied, despite potential threats of climate change and land abandonment. The PhD will be supervised by Prof Antonio Rolando and Dr Dan Chamberlain of the Ecology Group, within the Department of Biology. This PhD is open to any students holding a science degree in Ecology, Zoology or a related subject that has been obtained outside Italy. We are seeking strongly motivated candidates that ideally have some experience of ecological fieldwork, good analytical skills and are able to work independently under challenging conditions. To apply, please contact Dan Chamberlain before 6th June 2015 (dan.chamberlain99@gmail.com, tel. +39 011 6704534). The PhD is due to start in October 2015 and will be fully funded for a duration of three years. ________________________________________________ Direzione e Amministrazione: Via Accademia Albertina, 13 - 10123 TORINO – Italy Centralino (+39)-011-670.4617 Fax (+39)-011-670.4508 Sede di Viale Mattioli, 25 - 10125 TORINO – Italy – Tel (+39)-011-670.5980 Fax (+39)-011-670.5962 Sede di Via Quarello, 15/a - 10135 TORINO – Italy – Tel (+39)-011-670.5967 Fax (+39)-011-670.6364