Doctoral (Ph. D.) position in biology: community and food web ecology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Description
The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology has an opening for a place in the doctoral program in Biology in the field of community and food web ecology at the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences. The project will specifically focus on evaluating the ability of forested buffer strips to maintain cross boundaries fluxes between streams and riparian ecosystems. 

The River Ecology and Management Research Group (RivEM), a research environment within the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences at Karlstad University, conducts both basic and applied research in and along rivers and lakes and their surrounding landscapes. The environment is interested in the sustainable use of natural resources in watersheds, working for solutions to environmental problems that benefit both society and nature. Areas of research addressed by RivEM include river connectivity and the effects of hydropower, aquatic-terrestrial interactions and habitats, winter ecology under global climate change, endangered species, conservation biology and social-ecological research relating to river regulation and recreational fishing (www.kau.se/biology/research; www.nrrv.se). Many research topics are conducted in collaboration with stakeholders from industry, administrative agencies, interest organizations and landowners.

The successful candidate will (i) analyse the link between riparian forest buffer width and functional diversity of riparian predator communities, (ii) define optimal buffer zones for conservation of riparian ecosystem functions, based on food web complexity and ecological niches (using stable isotopes) and (iii) use DNA-barcoding to study variation in prey preference with varying buffer width and test stable isotopes as a tool to assess riparian ecosystem functions in forestry affected landscapes.

Education and duties
The doctoral program consists of 240 credits, including the dissertation. Doctoral students may also be assigned departmental duties, such as teaching or other work at the university to a maximum of 20 percent of a full time position.

Requirements and assessment grounds
To be admitted to the doctoral program, candidates must fulfill both the general and special eligibility requirements, as well as be deemed to have the ability to successfully complete the doctoral program (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7, § 35).

General eligibility. A person who has earned a master’s degree of at least 240 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits are studies at master’s level, or who in some other way in the country or abroad has acquired largely equivalent knowledge has general eligibility for admission. If there are special reasons for doing so, the faculty board may grant an individual applicant exemption from the general eligibility (Higher Education Ordinance, Ch.6).

Special eligibility. To be eligible for admission to graduate studies in Biology requires that one has at least 120 credits in Biology, including a 30 credit independent research course.

Assessment grounds. The successful candidate is the person deemed best to be able to successfully complete the educational program and to produce a dissertation of high scientific quality and originality. In the selection process, special weight is given to (1) the applicant's academic performance, in terms of grades and course breadth, as well as the quality of their advanced-level independent research work (30 hp), and (2) documented knowledge in stable isotope ecology and/or molecular ecology. Considerable weight is given to knowledge in community or food web ecology. Experience and interest in multiple taxonomic groups (fish, spiders, bats) is also of merit. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required, as well as a driver’s license. The applicant is expected to work at the university and participate in our research environment. In addition, special emphasis is placed on personal qualities such as engagement, collaborative skills, ability to take initiative and establish good relations with others.

Admission
Admission occurs after individual evaluation of all candidates. The starting date for the position is as soon as possible, preferably by April 1, 2019 at the latest. Location of employment is Karlstad.

Non-electronic documents (state registration number REK 2019/37) can be sent to: Karlstad University, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Att: Åsa Ivansson, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden.

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and decline any contacts from advertising or recruitment agencies.