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Natural History Museum
Doctoral Research Fellowship in Evolutionary Genomics and Zoology
A 4-year PhD position (SKO 1017) is available at the Natural History Museum
(NHM), University of Oslo.
The Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, is the largest of its kind
in Norway with approximately 150 employees engaged in research, teaching,
curating collections and popularizing the sciences of botany, mycology,
zoology, paleontology and geology.
Job description
The subject of the PhD project will address the genomic foundations of
cryptic speciation in marine interstitial invertebrates. The detection of
cryptic species is exponentially increasing in the past two decades. This
includes many interstitial species living in the space between the sand
grains, for which the "Meiofauna paradox" is long known. That is,
morphological identical species with very limited dispersal capacities
exhibit a global distribution. The paradox is related to cryptic speciation,
but several aspects are unknown. 1) What is driving speciation? 2) How
strongly is gene flow limited between populations? 3) Does sympatry of
cryptic species occur? 4) Why are the species morphologically static? These
questions shall be addressed using European populations from the
interstitial polychaete Stygocapitella subterranea as a model system.
Population and evolutionary genomic approaches will be explored to assess
gene flow, signatures of different selection regimes and phylogeography.
The project will be based on morphological and molecular methods. NHM have
access to modern DNA-laboratory facilities. The PhD will be associated with
the professor of evolutionary genomics at NHM, Torsten Struck.
Requirements
* We seek a person with strong motivation for evolutionary genomics.
* The candidate must be skilled in laboratory practices relating to DNA
extraction, next-generation sequencing of genomes including RAD sequencing
and preferably working with small amounts of tissue material (i.e., whole
genome amplification).
* Very good computing skills and background in bioinformatics are required
for handling and analyzing large data sets emerging from next-generation
sequencing approaches.
* General knowledge about annelid morphology and identification of
interstitial species will be advantageous.
* Collaboration and communication skills (including written and spoken
English)
* Applicants must hold a Master¹s degree or equivalent in biology or related
disciplines like bioinformatics.
We offer
* Salary based on salary level 50-55 (NOK 430 500 467 700 per year)
* A challenging and friendly working environment
* Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
* Attractive welfare benefits
The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful
completion of a PhD degree. The fellowship requires admission to the PhD
program at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Appointment to a
research fellowship is conditional upon admission to the Faculty¹s research
training program. A plan for the research training must be submitted no
later than two months after taking up the position, and the admission
approved within three months.
Compulsory service, duty work, shall represent 25% of the total hours of
work.
Evaluation of the application
In assessing applications, particular emphasis will be placed upon the
academic and personal ability of the candidate to complete the project
within the given timeframe and write a PhD thesis under supervision.
Interviews with selected candidates will be arranged. Please also refer to
the English translation of regulations pertaining to the conditions of
employment for research fellowship positions:
http://www.uio.no/english/research/doctoral-degree-and-career/phd/applicatio
n/
http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/doctoral-degree-and-career/phd-program
me/index.html
A good command of English is required.
http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/doctoral-degree-and-career/regulations
/proficiency-requirements.html
The application must include:
* Application letter
* CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work, scientific
publications and other relevant activities)
* Copies of educational certificates and letters of recommendation
* List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be
considered by the evaluating committee
* A one page explanation of how a PhD in evolutionary genomics will fit into
the applicant¹s career plan
* Names and contact details of 2-3 referees (name, relation to candidate,
e-mail and telephone number)
The application with attachments is to be delivered in our electronic
recruiting system EasyCruit. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an
explanation of their University¹s grading system. Please remember that all
documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.
The University of Oslo has an agreement regarding acquisition of rights to
work results for all employees, with the aim to secure rights to research
results, etc.
The University of Oslo has a goal of recruiting more women in academic
positions. Women are encouraged to apply. In accordance with the University
of Oslo¹s equal opportunities policy, we invite applications for all
interested individuals regardless of sex or ethnicity. According to the
Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova) information about the
applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where
the applicant has requested non-disclosure.
* Region:
* Oslo
* Job type:
* Contract
* Working hours:
* Full-time
* Working days:
* Day
* Application deadline:
* 31.07.2015
* Location:
* Tøyen
* Reference number:
* 2015/8149
* Home page:
* http://www.nhm.uio.no
* Contacts:
* Fridtjof Mehlum, Research Director
* Telephone: +47 22851723
The PhD position announcement is published at
http://uio.easycruit.com/vacancy/1417374/71922?iso=no,
which also provides the link to the application portal.
Feel also free to contact me at my recent address, but I will be moving in
July:
Torsten H. Struck
Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig
Adenauerallee 160
53113 Bonn
Germany
E-mail: torsten.struck.zfmk@uni-bonn.de
Phone: +49-228-9122401
Webpage: www.annelida.de