Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Biology, Focus on Aquatic Ecology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Description

The Faculty of Health Science and Technology has an opening for one full-time post-doctoral research fellow in Biology at the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences in the field of aquatic conservation biology, with a focus on host parasite interactions between freshwater mussels and their host fishes.

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 research 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 such as unionid mussels, conservation biology and social-ecological research relating to river regulation and recreational fishing (www.kau.se/biology, http://www.nrrv.se). Within many of these topics, research is conducted in collaboration with stakeholders from industry, administrative agencies, interest organizations and landowners.

The position is a temporary full time position for two years. The position may include 20 % teaching or other academic duties in the Department. 

Duties

The global loss of biodiversity has severely affected ecosystem structure and function in aquatic environments. One highly threatened group of organisms that used to be common in streams and rivers is the unionid mussels. These filter-feeding mussels can have strong effects on ecosystem function and biodiversity. It is of concern to re-establish or strengthen mussel populations in streams where they used to thrive. Unionid mussels have an obligatory parasitic stage on one or more host fish species. For effective conservation and restoration measures, functional host fish species must be identified and conserved to support the mussel populations.

The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is decreasing in abundance throughout its distribution. The freshwater pearl mussel is a parasite on the gills of salmonid fishes (in Sweden brown trout (Salmo trutta) and/or Atlantic salmon (S. salar)) for 10-12 months.

The successful candidate will study host parasite ecology and reintroduction ecology of the freshwater pearl mussel and its host fishes, both in the field and in controlled experiments at our state-of-the-art stream laboratory at Karlstad University. The research questions will be focused on the host function and suitability of brown trout and Atlantic salmon to the freshwater pearl mussel, with the aim to support management decisions aiming at restoring threatened mussel populations and their host fish species. In addition, research on the host fish as a mussel dispersal vector, or research on immuno-related interactions between the mussel and its host fishes can also come into question. The specific research questions to be addressed will be decided in consultation with the candidate.

The applicant is expected to be active at the university and participate in the research environment.

Requirements

To be eligible for the position, applicants are required to hold a PhD (or to be completed before the decision about the employment is taken) in ecology or related fields. The candidate must have completed the degree no more than three years before the last date for applications unless special grounds exist.

Older PhD degrees can be taken into account when there are special reasons, such as leave due to sick leave, parental leave, clinical service, positions of trust within unions or other similar circumstances.

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required,

Assessment grounds

We are searching for a highly motivated candidate with experience in aquatic ecology.

In the selection process, special weight will be given to the applicant's research skills, as demonstrated by the quality of the applicant’s PhD thesis, published scientific articles and other scientific merits. Special weight will also be given to the applicant’s knowledge in experimental design and statistics (including statistical programs such as R), and the applicant’s experience in conducting experiments and investigations in the field and in the laboratory in aquatic environments.

In the selection process, considerable weight will be given to the applicant's scientific experience in fish ecology or in the ecology of mussels. Considerable weight will also be given to the ability to cooperate and establish good relations with colleagues, as well as the ability to work independently and to take initiatives.

Weight will be given to the applicant's interest and knowledge of host-parasite ecology. Weight will also be given to the experience of collaborating with society and communicating research.

Completed pedagogical education is a merit, as well as a driver’s license as much of the practical work will be performed in the field.

Terms

The position is a full-time employment for 24 months, starting on May 1, 2022, or by agreement between the applicant and the employer.

Other

Karlstad University values ​​the qualities that even gender distribution and diversity bring to the business. We are therefore happy to see applicants of all genders and with different birth backgrounds, functionality and life experience.

Application

The application should be submitted electronically via Karlstad University´s web-based recruitment tool Varbi. You as the applicant are responsible for the application being complete in accordance with the advertisement, that any documents in languages ​​other than Swedish and English are translated and to document your competence in a way that allows and objective, qualitative assessment. The complete application must be received by the end of the application period. An incomplete application may mean that your competence cannot be evaluated in all respects.

The application should include:

• CV
• Personal letter describing the applicant and her/his research interests in relation to the announced position
• Publication list (in the case of co-publication, the own role must be stated), including copies of scientific articles (max 10).
• Copies of relevant grades, diplomas, certificates that prove previous employment and letters of recommendation.
• Copy of the dissertation and other relevant publications
• Reference contact information (at least two) or letter of reference

All documents that you want to be part of your application must be attached to the digital application (not links). Name each uploaded document so it is clear what it contains

Documents that cannot be sent electronically, should be sent to:

Karlstads universitet
HR-avdelningen/Josefin Rönnkvist
651 88 Karlstad
Sweden

Application deadline: 2022-03-14                                        

State the reference no: REK2022/43

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.