Doctoral position in biology: ecological and individual-based modelling - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Background
The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology has an opening for a place in the doctoral program in Biology in the field river ecology at the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences. The project will specifically focus on ecological and individual-based modelling of salmon and trout populations in regulated rivers.

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; http://www.nrrv.se). Many research topics are conducted in collaboration with stakeholders from industry, administrative agencies, interest organizations and landowners.

Duties
The successful candidate will (i) develop high-resolution spatially-explicit maps of physical habitat in river, (ii) assess river hydraulic conditions using 2- or 3-D hydraulic models, (iii) develop and apply Individual Based models of fish population in river to assess the effects of river regulation. The project may include field and lab work, collaboration with stakeholders, participating in meetings, workshops and conferences. A doctoral student is mainly expected to engage in doctoral studies. The doctoral programme consists of 240 higher education credits, including the doctoral thesis. Departmental duties, such as teaching, or other tasks, may be allocated up till 20% of full-time.

Eligibility
For admission to doctoral studies applicants must meet the requirements of both general and special eligibility (Higher Education Ordinance, Ch. 7 sect. 35)

Applicants who have a Master's degree of at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 credits at Master level, or who have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad, meet the general eligibility requirements.

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.

Admission and assessment criteria
For admission to doctoral studies an applicant must be judged to have the ability required to pursue the programme successfully (Higher Education Ordinance, Ch. 7, sect. 35). Admission is based on individual assessment.

Assessment is based on the following criteria: 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 spatial analysis and physical and ecological modelling. Considerable weight is given to knowledge in river ecosystems, ecology, landscape ecology, and computer programming. Experience in mapping river habitat and sampling fish populations 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.

Terms of employment
Upon admission to doctoral studies, a studentship position will be offered (Higher Education Ordinance, Ch. 5, sect.3). The position is a full-time, fixed-term employment (two years that can be extended by two years at the most) with starting-date by agreement.

Further information
Karlstad University places great value on the enriching presence of diverse backgrounds and gender balance in the organisation.  We welcome applicants with different cultural backgrounds, gender identities, functional abilities and life experiences.

Application
Application should include well documented qualifications. Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement before deadline and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications. Give two references, of which at least one is a former or present supervisor, or equivalent.

Application should include
- Letter of application with description of your background and your interest in the position,
- List of qualifications (CV),
- Degree certificate with transcripts of courses completed, or a certified list of completed courses with grades and dates,
- Copy of a Master thesis (one or two years) or equivalent,
- Copies of publications or certificate of other qualifications, if applicable,
- Letter of recommendation, if possible.

Submit the application via the University’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi, and attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not provide links to them). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content.

Documents that cannot be submitted electronically should be sent to (state register number REK 2019/258):
Karlstads universitet
Fakulteten för hälsa, natur och teknikvetenskap
Åsa Ivansson
651 88 KARLSTAD

Last application: 10 January 2020

State the ref.no: REK 2019/258

We look forward to your application!

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.