Vacancy for a joint Phd position at University Ghent and University of Groningen on eco-evolutionary dynamics in a spatial context.
According to classical island biogeography by MacArthur and Wilson (1967), immigration, speciation and extinction determine species diversity. However, diversity is not only an outcome of ecological and evolutionary processes but will also feedback on them. Thus eco-evolutionary dynamics are expected to determine macroecological and macroevolutionary patterns such as foodweb structure and phylogenetic relatedness. Within a joint doctoral program between the University of Ghent, Belgium and the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, we have an open PhD vacancy with a focus on these eco-evolutionary dynamics. Your work will combine theoretical (analytical and simulation models) and experimental (mesocosms) approaches. You will be supervised by Prof. dr. R.S. Etienne (Groningen) and Prof. dr. D. Bonte (Ghent). Description: You will prepare a doctoral thesis in the field of eco-evolutionary dynamics You will conduct this research at the Terrestrial Ecology Unity (Univ. Ghent) and the Community and Conservation Ecology Group (Univ. Groningen) Profile : You are an enthusiastic and highly motivated student with a strong interest in spatial and evolutionary ecology You are keen to combine experimental and theoretical approaches, to be a member of two dynamic labs You are mobile and willing to travel between the involved research units You have a Master degree in Biology or an equivalent degree in life sciences with a sufficient background in ecology, evolutionary biology and modelling You have excellent study grades Our offer: We offer a PhD scholarship for two years, that will be extended for two more years after a positive evaluation Starting date is 1 January 2013. Interested? Send your CV, summary of study grades, and a motivation letter and the names of two referees by email before October 172th 2012 to [email protected] and [email protected]. For more information, contact Prof. dr. D. Bonte (+32 9 264 5213) or Prof. dr. R.S. Etienne (+31 50 363 2230) by phone or use the email addresses above.
