Doctoral position (Ph. D.) in biology: aquatic 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 Ph. D. program in Biology in the field of aquatic conservation biology at the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences. The project will specifically focus on “Resolving production bottlenecks for the European eel”, funded by Karlstad University.

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 group 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). Within many of these topics, research is conducted in collaboration with stakeholders from industry, administrative agencies, interest organizations and landowners.

RivEM was selected as a ‘Strong Research Environment’ by Karlstad University, and has received directed funding to further develop the research profile.

Conserving biodiversity is one of the major challenges in applied aquatic ecology. The European eel function as a flagship species in marine and freshwater conservation, and its population collapse is of major concern for ecologists, fishers and managers.

The successful candidate will identify

(i) relationships between yellow eel habitat use, growth, behavior and survival,

(ii) effects of habitat characteristics and the surrounding landscape on eel large-scale movements within freshwater systems, and

(iii) functioning downstream passage solutions at hydropower plants for a wide range of silver eel phenotypes.

Education and duties
The Ph. D. 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. Doctoral students are expected to be involved in the daily work of the Department.

Requirements and assessment grounds
To be admitted to the Ph. D. 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 aquatic conservation biology with a focus on migratory fish species. Considerable weight is given to documented knowledge in fish ecology and/or landscape ecology. Experience and interest in experimental work, telemetry and analysis using GIS 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 good interpersonal skills, ability to establish good relations with others and the ability to take initiative and show commitment to the initiatives of others.

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

Non-electronic documents (state registration number REK 2019/102) 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.