PhD candidate in population biology

Faculty of Science – Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics

A PhD position is open with Dr Isabel Smallegange in the Theoretical Ecology Research Group within the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) at the University of Amsterdam. The Theoretical Ecology group currently comprises 2 professors, 3 assistant professors, 4 postdoctoral researchers, and 6 PhD candidates, and hosts two ERC Advanced Grants, a MEERVOUD and a VIDI grant. It has active research programmes in structured population modelling, resource-consumer interactions, epidemiology, demography, and evolutionary and eco-evolutionary theory.

The IBED is one of eight research institutes within the Faculty of Science. Research in IBED includes Community Dynamics, Biodiversity and Evolution, and Geo-Ecology, and aims at a better understanding of the dynamics of ecosystems at all relevant levels, from genes to climate change, using a truly multidisciplinary approach. The Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam has a student body of around 3,000 and 1,500 members of staff, spread over eight research institutes and a number of faculty-wide support services. It offers thirteen Bachelor's degree programmes and eighteen Master’s degree programmes in the fields of the exact sciences, computer science and information studies, and life and earth sciences.

Project description

This project is part of the VIDI (NWO) research programme Ecology meets Evolution: Towards a new, mechanistic theory of eco-evolutionary dynamics of Dr Isabel Smallegange. This programme focuses on understanding the interaction between evolutionary and ecological processes in a variable environment to accurately predict population and community responses to environmental change. The research programme includes experimental work, mostly with mite model systems, as well as theoretical work.

The goal of this PhD project is to investigate the effects of environmental change on the eco-evolutionary population response of two mite species that differ in life history speed. The PhD candidate will investigate in multigenerational population experiments how harvesting and environmental variability affect the joint dynamics of life history traits and population biomass dynamics of ‘fast’ Rhizoglyphus robini and ‘slow’ Naiadacarus arboricola mite populations in the lab and in the field (in case of N. arboricola, field work will be in North America (Virginia)). The experimental work includes the performing of regular population counts and life-history assays to measure changes in life history traits (e.g. age and size at maturity, maximum size). The genetic, evolutionary response to perturbations is tracked by conducting common garden experiments at set time intervals during the experiments and by assessing directional shifts and temporal changes in genetic diversity as a result of experimental treatments using amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) assays.

Both mite species are also excellent model systems to study the conditional expression of alternative phenotypes. Both species have a facultative dispersal morph that they develop into depending on environmental conditions. Males of R. robini additionally display alternative reproductive phenotypes and are either fighters, which can kill competitor males, or defenceless scramblers. Insight into the mechanisms and consequences of alternative phenotype expression is important as conditional strategies underlie the production of almost all life history decisions and many dichotomous traits. During the population experiments, therefore, changes in male morph expression in R. robini and the facultative expression of a dispersal morph in both mite species will also be scored. These data can be used to parameterise models on the evolution of alternative phenotypes.

Profile

• A Master’s degree in ecology, evolution or population biology;
• experience with laboratory experiments, preferably with invertebrates;
• interest (preferably experience) in combining theory, laboratory studies, and data analysis;
• good computer skills, including statistical analysis and preferably also programming in MatLab or R;
• willingness to work in a multidisciplinary environment.

Further information

For additional information, please contact:

• Dr. Isabel Smallegange

Appointment

The project starts September 2015. The full-time appointment will be on a temporary basis for a maximum period of four years (18 months plus a further 30 months after a positive evaluation) and should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). An educational plan will be drafted that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. The PhD candidate is also expected to assist in the teaching of undergraduates. The full-time gross monthly salary will range from €2,125 in the first year to €2,717 in the final year, according to the Dutch salary scales for PhD candidates. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities is applicable. The annual salary will be increased by 8 % holiday allowance and 8.3 % end-of-year bonus.

Application

Applications should include:

1. a detailed CV including educational experience, a list of publications (if any) and the names and contact addresses of two academic references from which information about the candidate can be obtained;
2. a letter describing motivation and research interests, and
3. an English writing sample (e.g. paper, MSc or BSc thesis). Please combine these materials into a single PDF file.

Applications should be sent before 15 May 2015 23:59, via email to drs. S.H.M. Jongerius, P&O adviser: application-science@uva.nl.

Please quote vacancy number 15-121 in the subject field. Interviews, possibly via Skype, will be held on 11 and/or 12 June 2015.
No agencies please