PhD opportunity: The phylogenetic ecology and biogeography of food webs We are seeking an enthusiastic student for a PhD centered on the phylogenetic ecology of invertebrates in food webs. This PhD project will combine phylogeny, biogeography and community ecology to test mechanisms of food web change across geographic and environmental gradients. The large geographic scale of this project is made possible by an existing network of researchers, the Bromeliad Working Group, which has already documented aquatic invertebrate food webs from 2000 bromeliads in 16 sites across Central and South America. In this project, the PhD student will use sequencing to construct phylogenies of invertebrates from these sites, and then combine the phylogenies with the existing food web information. This creates a unique opportunity to reconcile the importance of evolution, dispersal and environmental filtering on food web structure.
The successful applicant will have a strong background in evolution and ecology, excellent grades, and above all a passion for biology. Ideally, the applicant will have independent research experience or a MSc. in evolution, molecular biology or ecology. The applicant should be competitive for national scholarships, such as NSERC or NSF, and will be expected to apply for such grants. The PhD student will spend time at both the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada) and at Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA). Prof. Diane Srivastava (UBC) will supervise the food web aspects of the project, whereas Prof. Jessica Ware (Rutgers) will supervise the molecular and phylogenetic aspects. The student will be registered in the PhD program at UBC, and become part of the Biodiversity Research Centre – a leading research hub in ecology and evolution. Send application with cv and transcripts to: Diane Srivastava ([email protected]) Jessica Ware ([email protected])
