PhD student in Biology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Background

The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology invites applications for a doctoral studentship in Biology with a specialization in community and landscape ecology at the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences. The project will specifically focus on developing evidence-based control measures and landscape-scale monitoring of the invasive vascular plant, the Garden Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus).

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. The group is interested in the sustainable use of natural resources, 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, landscape ecology, endangered species and conservation biology (https://www.kau.se/en/biology; http://www.nrrv.se). Research is often conducted in collaboration with stakeholders from industry, administrative agencies, interest organizations and landowners.

Duties

The main duties involve to plan, conduct and analyze field experiments directed at controlling the cover and spread of the invasive Garden Lupine. This will include (i) identifying the optimal timing of management, (ii) evaluating the use of different mowing techniques (timing and the regime) as a controlling agent for the Garden Lupine, and (iii) exploring unconventional control measures on the Garden Lupine and their effects on the native vegetation. Additionally, using data derived from geographic information systems (GIS) and un-crewed aerial vehicles (UAV), the candidate will (iv) develop a method for cost efficient monitoring of lupine populations and for evaluating the success of control measures at the landscape scale.

A doctoral student is mainly expected to engage in doctoral studies. The doctoral programme consists of 240 higher education credits, including the doctoral thesis. A doctoral student works independently and is prepared to contribute in various ways to the work of the department and to participate in teaching and administration. Such work may include a maximum of 20 percent of full-time work. To contribute to a good working environment and development of the university, the doctoral student is on site and participates in the daily work and meetings with colleagues.

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.

Special eligibility for admission to doctoral studies in Biology requires applicants to have 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: special weight is given to the applicant's (1) academic performance in terms of grades and course breadth, and the quality of their advanced-level independent research work (30 hp), (2) ability to complete the educational program and to produce a dissertation of high scientific quality and originality, and (3) documented knowledge in GIS, experimental design, statistical modelling and ecological fieldwork. Considerable weight is given to knowledge in community or landscape ecology. Additionally, considerable weight is given to personal qualities such as ability to cooperate, to exercise good judgement, to take responsibility, to commit to activities, and to have a positive attitude to colleagues and students. Since the successful candidate will be responsible for communication with national, regional and local administrations, knowledge of Swedish is a 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.

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 (one year that can be extended by two years at the most at a time) with starting-date by agreement.

The salary for the doctoral student employment follows the salary steps for doctoral students determined by Karlstad University. The employment starts on April 1, 2021 or 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:

Karlstad University

Faculty of Health, Science and Engineering

Emelie Hessel

651 88 KARLSTAD

Last application date: 2021-04-12

State the ref. no: REK 2021/23

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.