Ph.D. opportunity in fish evolutionary ecology
Applications are invited for a motivated and enthusiastic PhD
candidate, who will join the BEYOND 2020 multi-institute research
cluster project (Burrishoole Ecosystem Observatory Network 2020). The
Burrishoole research station (managed by the Marine Institute) is an
international index site for diadromous fish, and a world leader in the
use of in-situ automated monitoring systems to track changes in
freshwater systems. The BEYOND 2020 research team builds on the existing
biological and sensor monitoring programmes at the Burrishoole research
station by using next generation science and technology to further
inform species and ecosystem response to both natural and human mediated
environmental change.
We seek a highly-motivated graduate who wants to gain a PhD in the
area of evolutionary ecology and population biology with particular
focus on the genetic architecture of phenotypic variation. The
successful applicant will investigate genetic architecture of ecological
divergence in three-spined sticklebacks in the Burrishoole system. This
system comprises mountain and lowland streams and lakes, tidal lakes,
estuaries and access into the ocean providing a unique opportunity to
study evolutionary change, genetic architecture under different
ecological pressures and investigate adaptive changes in response to
climate change in complex environments. Following assessment of the
biology and the ecology of the stickleback within several habitat types,
the student will have the opportunity to apply quantitative methods to
determine phenotypic divergence in a range of ecologically relevant
traits (e.g. presence of armour plate, body morphology, behaviour,
micro- and macro-parasite infection, feeding strategies, respiratory
metabolism). The use of genomics, metagenomics and transcriptomic tools
on wild-caught and experimental fish (in collaboration with research
collaborators at Queen’s University Belfast and University of Glasgow),
will allow genotype-phenotype mapping of phenotypes in complex and
variable environments.
The position is based at the Marine Institute’s research facility in
Newport Co. Mayo, Ireland. The student will be joining a
multidisciplinary team of researchers and other Ph.D. students and will
be will working closely with project collaborators in University College
Cork, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Glasgow and the Marine
Institute.
The position is funded for 3.5 years. Funding is through a Marine
Institute project-based award (Marine Research Programme 2014-2020) and
provides a 3.5-year stipend of €16,000 per annum plus fees (with
possibility of an extension). The successful candidate will be
registered as a full time research student in the School of Biological,
Earth & Environmental Sciences at UCC (Cork), under the supervision
of Drs Phil McGinnity and Joshka Kaufmann (UCC) and Prof. Paulo Prodöhl
(QUB). The PhD degree will be awarded by University College Cork.
Applicants should have a First or Upper Second Class Honours BSc or
MSc. in an appropriate discipline (e.g. Ecology, Evolution, Zoology,
Biology, Genetics). A strong background and interest in quantitative
genetics is essential, as well as a solid training in evolutionary,
ecological and/or population genetics theory. Applicants must be
self‐motivated with good communication, organisational and writing
skills. Experience working with fish handling in field or aquaria
settings would be advantageous but not essential; as would molecular
laboratory skills. Experience in using R is a plus.
Informal Enquiries: Please contact Dr P. McGinnity (Email: p.mcginnity@ucc.ie)
To apply please send by email a CV, details of 2 referees, and an
accompanying letter of application outlining your relevant experience to
Dr P. McGinnity, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental
Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. E‐mail p.mcginnity@ucc.ie
Dates: Application deadline is 15 June 2017. Start date Summer 2017.