We invite applicants for a PhD position to work with an international team of scientists, including Dr. Juliette Rosebery from France (http://www.irstea.fr/en/research/research-units/rebx/anthropogenic-contaminants-and-response-aquatic-environments), Dr. Janne Soininen from Finland (http://blogs.helsinki.fi/jhsoinin/), and Dr. Sophia Passy from the US (http://www.uta.edu/biology/passy/lab/home.html). The successful candidate is expected to have expertise in diatom ecology, a good statistical background (knowledge of R language is desirable), and excellent communication skills. S/he will study the causes and consequences of beta diversity dynamics (including nestedness and turnover), ii) the influence of human disturbances on species dispersal and geographic distribution, and iii) the intercontinental differences in species niches. The student will have the opportunity to use large French and American databases on diatom community composition, stream physico-chemistry, and watershed characteristics, including climate, topography, land cover and land use, hydrology and hydrological modification, soil composition, etc. The project encompasses experimentation with laboratory microcosms, field work in natural streams, and statistical modeling.
The PhD student will start in the fall of 2014 and will spend the first 2.5 years at Irstea and the following 2.5 years at the University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington). Short stays in Helsinki University will also be proposed during the second year for theoretical and methodological developments. Irstea is a public scientific and technical institute with a dual culture of researchers and engineers who tackle environmental matters with research and innovation. Bordeaux is the main city of the attractive region of Aquitaine, close to the Atlantic Ocean, Pyrénées Mountains and Spain. This is a rapidly developing city with a large number of universities, engineering schools and student facilities (http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com/pl/index.pl?langueSelected=uk). UT Arlington is the second largest institution in the University of Texas system and the seventh fastest growing university in the nation with over 33,000 students. Arlington is situated in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex, which is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the US (www.experiencearlington.org<http://www.experiencearlington.org/>). The University of Helsinki is one of the best multidisciplinary research universities in the world. It is an international academic community of 40,000 students and staff members, operating on four campuses in Helsinki and at 17 other locations. To apply, please e-mail your CV, a statement of research interests, GRE scores, TOEFL scores for international students, and the names and contact information of three references to Dr. Juliette Rosebery ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>) or Dr. Sophia Passy ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>). Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
