mercredi 31 octobre 2018

Doctoral position at Åbo Akademi University

Doctoral Student position at Doctoral Network in Functional Marine Biodiversity (FunMarBio)

We offer a doctoral position for the period 1.1.2019-30.6.2021 (max. 30 months), within the Doctoral Network in Functional Marine Biodiversity (FunMarBio)
The main objective with this position is to offer research education in marine biology and ecology. Understanding what generates spatial and temporal variation in natural and sexual selection is one of the major challenges in current evolutionary ecology. This doctoral project focuses on how the availability of food and feeding habitats for females affect spatial variation in mating success and sexual selection in males in a resource defence breeding system. The model system is the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus, a small marine fish species and a well-established model system in evolutionary behavioural ecology. How female fecundity variation is reflected on mating systems and sexual selection has received little attention despite that there is a direct link between female reproductive rate and sexual selection through the effects on the operational sex ratio.
The project combines trophic ecology with behavioural ecology. It seeks to explain eco-evolutionary feedback processes that arise between individual behaviour and the community and seascape through their influence on female fecundity and hence population sustainability. Information gained through this project will be relevant in predicting the effects of climate change and device management strategies to mitigate the effects of this. The project is part of the recently initiated strategic multi‐disciplinary Profiling area The Sea (https://www.abo.fi/en/the-sea/) at Åbo Akademi University. The position is part of the Doctoral Network in Functional Marine Biodiversity and the successful candidate will be working a diverse and international environment that provides a stimulating intellectual environment for research, networking and career development.
We are seeking a highly motivated, self-driven student who is able to work independently but also in a team. Experience from fieldwork in aquatic environments will be considered as a benefit. The current funding is for 30 months, starting no later than March 2019.
For further information about the position and application process, please contact Professor Kai Lindström, kai.lindstrom@abo.fi and Tel. +358 2 215 4355.
Deadline for submission of application is on 15th December 2018 at 3 p.m. (Finnish time). Complete documentation is required.