PHD STUDENT POSITION IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF STRESS TOLERANCE IN A
BUTTERFLY METAPOPULATION
Applications are invited for a four-year PhD fellowship in the research
group of Marjo Saastamoinen as part of the ERC funded META-STRESS
project (Starting Grant scheme). The successful applicant will join the
Centre of Excellence in Metapopulation Research at the University of
Helsinki.
The PhD project aims to understand the life-history responses and
underlying mechanisms that allow organisms to cope with environmental
stress in the wild. The large metapopulation of the Glanville fritillary
(Melitaea cinxia) butterfly gives a unique opportunity to study
processes operating from genes within individuals all the way to
metapopulation-level dynamics (> 20 years of data). The PhD project will
focus on individual variation in stress tolerance within and among local
populations and the role of local adaption. In addition you will assess
the impact of stress tolerance on other key-life-history traits. There
is also potential to use recently developed genomic tools to identify
mechanisms involved in stress tolerance.
In practice, you will carry out field work in the Åland Islands
archipelago (SW Finland) and conduct experimental work in the laboratory
and under semi natural field conditions. You are expected to present
your findings in scientific meetings and workshops, as well as prepare
publications for international scientific journals.
Motivated students with a MSc degree in ecology, evolutionary biology or
molecular biology (or other related fields) are encouraged to apply.
Prior expertise in experimental design, statistical analysis or
laboratory work are a bonus but your most important assets are
enthusiasm for research, motivation to learn new things, and ability to
work independently while being an active member of a research team.
Please send your application to [email protected] by 16 February
2015 with title PhD META-STRESS. Attach a CV (with possible publications
included), a copy of your transcript records (printout of the courses
you’ve completed during your MSc), contact details of two references
(e.g. MSc thesis supervisor), and a letter (MAX 1 page) with a
description of your researcher interests and why you would be a suitable
candidate for the project.
The salary will be based on level 2 of the demands level chart for
teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish
universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component
based on personal performance. All standard pension benefits and
occupational health care are provided for university employees.
The work is scheduled to start in the spring/early summer 2015. For more
information, please contact Dr Marjo Saastamoinen
([email protected]) and visit the website at
http://www.mv.helsinki.fi/home/msaastam/index.html
For information on the University of Helsinki, please visit:
http://www.helsinki.fi/university/index.html
