PhD fellowship in evolutionary and conservation genomics

Link to the application page: https://jobportal.ku.dk/phd/?show=159806

PhD fellowship in evolutionary and conservation genomics

PhD Project in consequences of flightlessness in avian evolution

Natural History Museum Denmark
Faculty of SCIENCE
University of Copenhagen

The Zoology section at the Natural History Museum Denmark invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in fields of evolutionary and conservation genomics. The fellowship is funded by the research project “Causes and consequences of flightlessness in birds”, financed by Danmarks Frie Forskningsfonden (DFF; Independent Research Fund Denmark).

The start date is expected to be 1 December 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project
The PhD project aims to investigate the consequences of the evolution of flightlessness in birds utilizing genomic data. The study will explore the genetic mechanisms and evolutionary processes underlying the spectrum of flight capacities across bird species. The project will also examine the potential trade-offs associated with flightlessness, such as changes in morphology, metabolism, behavior, and population size. By analyzing genomic data from both flightless and flight-capable bird species, this research seeks to unravel the genetic signatures and functional implications of flightlessness, shedding light on the evolutionary consequences and adaptive trajectories of this intriguing phenomenon in avian evolution.

Who are we looking for?
We aim to recruit a candidate with academic interests and experiences related to evolutionary biology, population genetics, genomics, and phylogenetics of non-model organisms. Expertise with birds is desirable but not required.

Research environment
The selected candidate will be part of a research team at the University of Copenhagen that focuses on the intersection of biogeography, evolution, and phylogenetics. The team uses new materials from the field alongside the historical specimen collections held at the Natural History Museum of Denmark to investigate diverse aspects of avian biology, to unravel the evolutionary history and biogeographic patterns of birds. Using a foundation of DNA sequence data to infer historical relationships, we explore the ecological and evolutionary factors driving the diversification of species and their traits, including morphology, behavior, and adaptation to different environments. The team is positioned in the Natural History Museum Denmark, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen; and it also has an affiliation with the Center for
Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate, Globe Institute, Faculty of SUND.

Principal supervisor is Assistant Professor Peter A. Hosner, Natural History Museum & Globe Institute, peter.hosner@snm.ku.dk

The PhD programme
This fellowship opportunity is a three-year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD program (5+3 scheme) at the SCIENCE faculty and is only for candidates that have an education equivalent to a relevant two-year Danish master’s degree.

Qualifications needed for the regular program
To be eligible for the regular PhD program, candidates must have completed a degree program equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject of the project, e.g. biology, ecology & evolutionary biology, zoology, etc. For information on eligibility of completed programs, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular program
Employment as PhD fellow is full-time and for a maximum of 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in the regular PhD program:

Carry through an independent research project under supervision

Write and defend a PhD thesis

Write scientific papers aimed at international research journals

Obtain experience in knowledge dissemination activities, including international conferences

Participate in active research environments, including a fully funded research stay at a research

institution abroad

Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE

Useful experiences and skills:

A two-year master’s degree equivalent to the Danish program in evolutionary biology or a related field (required)

Experience preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals Competencies in scientific writing Formal and informal communication skills

Wet-lab experience, including DNA extraction and genomic library preparation

Computational skills, including data management and statistical analysis

Research experience with birds is desirable but not required

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Application and Assessment Procedure
The application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

Motivated letter of application (maximum length of two pages)

Curriculum vitae including information about education, employment history, publications, grants and fellowships, language skills, and other skills and experiences relevant to the position

Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science and Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.

Two reference letters

Application deadline:
The application deadline is 15 September 2023 at 23:59 GMT+2.

Application materials received after the deadline will not be considered.

The assessment process
After the deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. Applicants will be notified following the assessment.

The assessor will consider the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above-mentioned research area, techniques, skills, and other requirements; and will conclude whether each applicant is qualified. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. The recruitment process is described at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held online in the first week of October 2023

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet på Københavns Universitet – SCIENCE i kort form – er landets største naturvidenskabelige forsknings- og uddannelsesinstitution med 4.000 ansatte og 9.700 bachelor- og kandidatstuderende fordelt på 12 institutter. Fakultetet har et årligt budget på ca. 3 mia. kr.

Læs mere om Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet på https://www.science.ku.dk/